• Commonwealth Games

Daley holds nerve to seize dramatic gold

Tom Daley won gold medals on consecutive days © Getty Images

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Tom Daley held his nerve in a dramatic men's 10m platform diving final to claim his second gold medal of the Commonwealth Games.

The world and European champion triumphed ahead of Olympic king Matthew Mitcham after a back-and-forth tussle at the top of the leaderboard.

Daley led after the first round before surrendering the advantage to his Australian rival, who was in front by seven points at the halfway stage of the competition. But the Englishman, who claimed a synchro gold on Tuesday, was not about to be denied - and he didn't look back after reclaiming the lead with two rounds to go.

"Today has been a complete whirlwind," Daley told the BBC. "This morning I scored six tens in the preliminary round and finished behind Mitcham. It gave me something to fight for in the final. I'm just so happy to come away with another gold medal, it's just incredible."

Earlier, David Millar made history by becoming the first Scottish road cycling gold medallist when he triumphed in the men's 40km time trial. The winner of three Tour de France stages faced a long wait before setting off - he was last out in the event - but he held his nerve to claim a triumph with a time of 47.18.66, ahead of second-placed Englishman Alex Dowsett.

"It's been my big goal all year - it feels great," said Millar, who won World Championships time trial silver at the end of September. "It was hard. It was like being on a treadmill in a sauna."

In the women's time trial, pre-race favourite and newly crowned world champion Emma Pooley finished a hugely disappointing ninth - but there was some cheering news for England, as Julia Shaw claimed a bronze behind winner Tara Whitten of Canada.

Bradley Saunders was outgunned © Getty Images

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At the start of a busy day of boxing, with ten finals taking place, Northern Ireland's Paddy Barnes began the gold rush when he triumphed in the light-flyweight category with an 8-4 win over Namibia's Jafet Uutoni - in the process winning his nation's first gold of the Games.

Paddy Gallagher doubled N. Ireland's tally when he thumped England's Callum Smith 11-6 in the welterweight battle - despite giving away five inches in height. And they had three boxing gold medals at the Commonwealths for the first time when Eamonn O'Kane crushed Anthony Ogogo of England 16-4 in the middleweight final.

However another Ulsterman, Thomas McCarthy, was totally outclassed by Scotland's Callum Johnson in the light-heavyweight final, losing 8-1, while the Northern Irish juggernaut was also halted by Simon Vallily, who romped to victory over Steven Ward with a first round knock-down in the heavyweight final.

England's Tom Stalker triumphed in an all-British battles by defeating Scotland's Josh Taylor in their lightweight bout. There was heartbreak for Wales's Sean McGoldrick, who was narrowly beaten by Sri Lanka's Manju Wanniarachchi on countbacks following a 7-7 thriller after three rounds at bantamweight.

Bradley Saunders, fighting for England, was also struck down by disappointment after being crushed by Manoj Kumar in the light-welterweight final.

Georgie Twigg was the hero as England secured bronze © Getty Images

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The flow of English gold continued apace when Nick Matthew and Adrian Grant beat Australia's David Palmer and Stewart Boswell in the men's doubles of the squash.

England's women claimed bronze in the hockey tournament after a gritty 1-0 victory over South Africa on Wednesday morning. Georgie Twigg scored early on with a deft angled deflection from six yards out and England then defended resolutely to hold off the South African attack in oppresive heat.

Australia claimed the gold, beating New Zealand on penalties after the match finished locked at 2-2 at the end of 80 minutes.

There was better news for New Zealand in the women's doubles final of squash, as Jaclyn Hawkes and Joelle King defeated England's Jenny Duncalf and Laura Massaro 11-9 11-10.

English shooter Mick Gault narrowly missed out on equalling the all-time record of 18 Commonwealth Games medals when he came in fifth in the 25m standard pistol final. The 55-year-old would have drawn level with Australian shooter Phillip Adams had he come in the top three. The event was won by Singapore's Gai Bin. Elsewhere, English duo Richard Brickell and Parag Patel won shooting golds.

Jon Hammond continued Scotland's hot streak in the shooting when he picked up another gold for his nation in the 50m rifle prone. On Tuesday Neil Stirton and Hammond triumphed for the Scots in the 50m rifle prone pairs.

Unheralded lawn bowls competitor Natalie Melmore emerged from nowhere to beat New Zealander Val Smith and claim another gold for England, while Wales' Rob Weale was victorious in the men's singles.

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