Australia’s men and women lived up to their billing as pre-tournament favourites by claiming the Hockey Gold medals at the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
The mighty Kookaburras cruised to a 4-0 triumph over India to claim a fifth successive Commonwealth Games Gold medal on Sunday (3rd August). Chris Ciriello - who finished alongside England’s Ashley Jackson as tournament top scorer with nine goals - netted a hat-trick of penalty corners with Eddie Ockenden also making his mark on the score-sheet. Ciriello’s treble was his second in successive major tournament finals, having also scored three in Australia’s 6-1 hammering of the Netherlands in the Gold medal match at the Rabobank Hockey World Cup six weeks earlier.
The women’s final, which was played on Saturday (2nd August), was a far tighter affair, with England pushing the Hockeyroos every step of the way before eventually succumbing to the 2014 World Cup Silver medalists. A second half strike from England’s Lily Owsley was cancelled out in heartbreaking fashion by Jodie Kenny, who slammed home a penalty corner rebound with just 11 seconds of the match remaining before the Aussie girls emerged victorious in the shoot-out.
The men’s Bronze medal went the way of England, who recovered from a 4-1 semi-final defeat at the hands of Australia to battle to a shoot-out win over New Zealand’s Black Sticks after normal time in the match finished 3-3. Ironically, the result is a reversal of the Bronze medal game at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games when New Zealand defeated England on penalty strokes following a 3-3 draw.
The women’s Bronze was won by New Zealand, with Mark Hager’s charges overcoming stern resistance before eventually claiming a 5-2 victory over South Africa thanks to goals from Anita Punt, Krystal Forgesson, Jordan Grant (2) and Gemma Flynn.
Away from Glasgow Green, two hockey legends were given the huge honour being named flagbearers for their respective countries at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Hampden Park Stadium on Sunday evening. England captain Kate Richardson-Walsh and Kookaburras leader Mark Knowles were given the once in a lifetime opportunity to lead out all of the athletes that competed for their respective nations.
"I'm emotional, as always”, said Richardson-Walsh, a player who has won two Silver and two Bronze medals during four Commonwealth Games campaigns. “It's such an honour, particularly because the whole of Team England has performed so well, it adds an extra bit of pride.”
Triple Commonwealth Games Gold medalist Knowles echoed the sentiments of Richardson-Walsh, stating: "I am hugely honoured. It's great recognition of what we have been able to achieve as a team but also myself over the last three Commonwealth Games. This is the perfect end to a Games campaign."
For complete information on the Hockey competition at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, you can visit the official event website - www.glasgow2014.com, with hockey specific info available on www.glasgow2014.com/games/sports/hockey.
XX Commonwealth Games - Final Standings
Men
1. Australia - GOLD
2. India - SILVER
3. England - BRONZE
4. New Zealand
5. South Africa
6. Canada
7. Malaysia
8. Scotland
9. Wales
10. Trinidad & Tobago
Women
1. Australia - GOLD
2. England - SILVER
3. New Zealand - BRONZE
4. South Africa
5. India
6. Scotland
7. Malaysia
8. Canada
9. Wales
10. Trinidad & Tobago
