Bermuda 1 Venezuela 0 Bermuda clinched fifth place in the women's hockey tournament at the CAC Games with a single goal victory over Venezuela in Caracas yesterday.

The win, the Island's first and only of the competition, was enough to consign the host nation to bottom place and served as vengeance for a 2-1 defeat suffered at their hands in the opening game a week ago.

Caroline Black grabbed the only goal of the game -- just Bermuda's second in the competition -- in the 16th minute of the tie.

It was just reward for the battling displays by the young side, who had won plenty of admirers but nothing in terms of concrete results before yesterday's game.

A delighted team manager Nicola Wilkinson said afterwards: "It was phenomenal. It was the ladies' hockey team's first-ever win in the CAC Games.

"We went into the game at a psychological disadvantage after Venezuela beat Jamaica but the girls responded brilliantly again.'' The defensive format used purely as a damage limitation exercise against Cuba on Tuesday was replaced by the attacking strategy that had served the team well in the rest of the tournament.

But Wilkinson admitted: "We decided to go more on the defensive with about half of the second half to go and just accept the 1-0 victory. We wanted to hedge our bets a little.'' And she added: "We have achieved what we came here to do and we have not disgraced ourselves.

"Taking into account the lack of facilities and numbers in Bermuda, the fact that we can stand up against teams like Venezuela, who have thousands of hockey players, is remarkable and testament to how the girls played.

"They have been great ambassadors for their country -- both on and off the field -- and anyone who sponsored or supported them should be proud to have done so.'' In the other play-offs, Cuba beat Mexico with a single goal by Yanet Zapata to claim gold, while Jamaica beat Caribbean rivals Barbados 3-0 to win bronze.

Elsewhere, in sailing, the Wrights made up ground on the fourth and fifth days of competition to bring their quest to win Bermuda's only medals of the CAC Games closer to fruition.

In the Laser class, Brett dropped back to eighth place on Tuesday following Monday's rest day but two good performances yesterday lifted him back to sixth in the fleet of 18.

His chances, on the final day of racing today, hinge on whether or not the race that each sailor is allowed to discard has been taken into account. That information was not available as we went to press with Wright needing to make up 15 points on third-placed Mexican Federico Goeters in order to medal.

Sara Lane's hopes seemed much more realistic. She remained in fourth position in the Laser Radials but made up five points yesterday on two of the three women above her, Marisela Duarte Sanchez of Cuba and Mexico's Eliane Fierro.

She finished just two points beneath both, giving her a great chance of silver or bronze, while gold looked out of reach with Mexico's Tania Calles eight points ahead of them.

Jose Urbay took over at the top of the Laser class from Cuban team-mate Osvaldo Padron.

Meanwhile, Rohaan Simons and Bermudian new boy Ronan Kane come up against the world's best in the high jump final today.

Cuba's Javier Sotomayer is among some top-class competition. Sotomayer is the world record-holder, with a jump of 2.45 metres, and also holds the Pan American Games record of 2.40m.

While neither Simons nor Kane are expected to have any realistic chances of getting among the medal winners, they have their own reasons to be competing in such company.

Kane, who has Bermudian status but has competed at youth level for Ireland, has already reached the qualifying standard for the Commonwealth Games with a jump of 2.12m in England.

But after a break in competition since June he is looking to get in some experience before heading for Kuala Lumpur.

Simons, meanwhile, who has returned to the sport after his well-documented disillusionment with soccer's hierarchy, is still hoping to meet the standard.

He needs a jump two-and-a-half inches above his best of 2.05m to make the trip.

Gymnastics, Page 23 HOCKEY HOC