Commonwealth Games Gold Medal Match England 2 Australia 1 A week after football came home following the Lionesses’ Women’s Euro Championship victory, it was hockey’s turn to come home on a Commonwealth basis as England beat Australia 2-1 at the University of Birmingham to win the Commonwealth Games gold medals for the first time in their history.

England had won EuroHockey Championships in Lee Valley in 2015. However, they still have not received their first Commonwealth title. In 2014, the Hockeyroos robbed them of their Commonwealth title. Australia beat England in a shootout in the 70 Minute contest.

Australia scored in 60 minutes of play in 2022. England led 2-1 with 19.4 seconds left. The Southern Hemisphere side had no time to score an equaliser.

BIRMINGHAM – Commonwealth Games 2022 Ceremony Picture: Team England Gold Medalist COPYRIGHT WORLDSPORTPICS FRANK UIJLENBROEK BIRMINGHAM – Commonwealth Games 2022 27 England v Australia (Final) Picture: England celebrate 2-0. Holly Hunt and Tessa Howard COPYRIGHT WORLDSPORTPICS ADY KERRY BIRMINGHAM – Commonwealth Games 2022 Ceremony Picture: Team England Gold medalist COPYRIGHT WORLDSPORTPICS FRANK UIJLENBROEK England also had the unique record of conceding two goals in the tournament, both from penalty corners and both in the 60th minute after India had scored in their Pool game to make the final score 3-1 to England.

Mariah Williams had the Hockeyroos’ first shot in the first minute and Flora Peel tested Aleisha Power in the second as both teams took time to settle down with gold medals at stake.

Williams also had a shot blocked in the tenth minute before Australia made what could have been a very costly error in challenging England’s first penalty corner award in the 12th minute. However, they lost their right for video referral. Grace Balsdon saved two shots and had another one blocked. Australia then defended three penalty corners.

Although Lily Owsley had a shot blocked at the end of the first quarter it was determined that the Commonwealth title would be relegated to the second quarter.

Jane Claxton was denied a shot and Sophie Hamilton saved Power. However, Flora Peel scored in the 22nd minute for Holly Hunt.

England doubled its lead just four minutes later. Shona McAllin found Peel and Howard deflected it brilliantly. Power was left with no choice but to lose.

Australia forced their first penalty corner in the penultimate minute of the second quarter, but Penny Squibb was thwarted by Fiona Crackles’ bravery in blocking the shot.

Australia naturally took the game to England at the start of the third quarter in trying to mount a comeback but chances were few and far between until the 39th minute when Stephanie Kershaw’s lob shot was gloved away by England goalkeeper Maddie Hinch with Shanea Tomkin warned for dangerously challenging Hinch.

This was the closest anyone came to getting a card. Nobody was suspended for the entire 60 minutes. England went close to a third goal, Anna Toman’s shot deflected against the left post before the ball sped across goal and away to safety from England’s fourth penalty corner and with time running out at the end of the third quarter, Ellie Rayer made a hurried shot into the side netting from the left of the circle.

Claxton put Hinch through the paces in the opening thirty seconds of the fourth period. Howard saved Hinch’s shot with Power, while Sophie Hamilton jumped over the bar to keep Australia 2-0 down with five minutes left.

Australia had three consecutive penalty corners in 55 minutes, but England won with Hinch making a triple save. Renee Taylor (Kaitlin Nobbs) and Williams failed to return the Hockeyroos in the match. Maddy Fitzpatrick also had shots blocked twice.

England lost their video referral challenging Australia’s fifth penalty corner and although Rosie Malone finally made the breakthrough it was too late and England made history.

England:

Scorers Holly Hunt 22-F, Tess Howard26-F

Starters: Maddie Hinch (GK); Laura Unsworth, Anna Toman, Hannah Martin, Ellie Rayer, Izzy Petter, Giselle Ansley, Hollie Pearne-Webb (Capt.Flora Peel, Lily Owsley, Fiona Crackles

Subs: Holly Hunt (3 minutes), Tess Howard (4 mins), Shona McCallin (4 mins), Grace Balsdon ((4)), Lily Walker (5/5), Sophie Hamilton (5).

Sub not used Sabbie Heesh, (GK).

Cards

Australia:

Scorer: Rosie Malone 60-PC

Starters: Amy Lawton, Penny Squibb, Aleisha Power (GK), Maddy Fitzpatrick, Greta Hayes, Stephanie Kershaw, Kaitlin Nobbs, Jane Claxton (Capt.Grace Stewart, Renee Taylor, Mariah Wilkins, and Aleisha Power (GK), Maddy Fitzpatrick, Greta Hayes, Stephanie Kershaw, Kaitlin Nobbs, Jane Claxton (Capt.

Subs: Rosie Malone (2 minutes), Shanea Tokin (3), Claire Colwill ((4)), Georgia Wilson (6) and Rebecca Greiner (6(6)

Subs not used Jocelyn Bartram, Karri Somerville

Cards

Umpires: Amber Church in New Zealand and Wanri Venture (South Africa).

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