• Commonwealth Games

Halsall and Tancock open England's gold account

Fran Halsall claimed England's first gold medal © Getty Images

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• News: Backstroke gold for Goddard
  
• News: Day One: Adlington kicks off with bronze
  
• Profile: Fran Halsall | Liam Tancock

Day Two Gallery

World record holder Liam Tancock stormed to victory in the men's 50m backstroke just moments after Fran Halsall had claimed England's first gold medal in the swimming pool.

Tancock, the world record holder, got off to a flying start and never relinquished his lead as he touched the wall in a new Games record of 24.62 seconds. And his training partner Halsall sparked England's goldrush when she stunned world champion Marieke Guehrer to win the women's 50 butterfly title in a time of 26.24 seconds.

It kick-started an impressive evening session in the pool in Delhi, with Robbie Renwick claiming Scotland's first gold of the Games in the 200m freestyle. Renwick was seventh at the final turn, but produced a strong finish to outgun a strong field, with England's defending champion Ross Davenport fifth.

Kate Haywood won a third English medal in the pool with a hard-earned bronze medal in the women's 50m breaststroke behind Australia's Leiston Pickett and Liesel Jones.

England beat Wales 4-1 in their Pool B hockey clash on Tuesday largely thanks to the expertise of Crista Cullen from the short corner.

Fullback Cullen struck twice in the first half and once more in the second period from that avenue and Charlotte Craddock added a fourth after capitalising on a Welsh error. Sarah Thomas fired home a fine goal in response but it was a mere consolation for Wales, who are now struggling having lost 5-1 to New Zealand on Monday.

After their heroics in holding 2006 silver medallists India to a 1-1 draw on Monday, Scotland's women suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to South Africa. Scotland's men fell to a 3-0 defeat in their opening Group A match against Pakistan. Goals from Shakeel Abbasi, Rehan Butt and Muhammad Imran sealed a convincing win for the 2006 silver medalists.

Becky James claimed the first British medal in the cycling. With a host of British names such as Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton missing from the velodrome, James clocked 35.236 behind Australian pair Anna Meares and Kaarle McCullough to claim bronze in the 500m time trial on her Games debut.

England added another two medals to their growing tally in the shooting. James Huckle and Kenny Parr won a silver medal in the men's pairs 10m air rifle event, while Gorgs Geikie and Julia Lydall claimed bronze in the women's pairs 25m pistol.

There were also medals for England's Terence Bosson - a silver in the greco-roman wrestling - and a silver medal for England's gymnasts in the team competition.

England's netball team continued their unbeaten start to their Commonwealth campaign. Following their opening 81-20 win against Barbados on Monday, Jo Harten scored 22 points in a 54-36 win over South Africa.

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