BBC Three: Day 10: 09:00-14:00 Commonwealth Games

Good morning. Welcome to day ten, the penultimate day of Glasgow 2014.

We have seen it all, heartbreak, tears, success and glory and

yesterday was no different. So, some wonderful memories created

yesterday and this is how the medal table looks. England have a

commanding lead at the top with 140 medals and 48 golds, many thanks to

the gymnasts over the last few days. Claudia Fragapane became the first

in dish woman to win four gold medals at a Commonwealth Games 484

years with victory on the floor. Australia are in second and Canada

still leads Scotland, who have 17 gold medals in 49. Alex Marshall and

Paul Foster made it a golden double as they helped Scotland win the

men's fours. Wales are in 12 and Northern Ireland

men's fours. Wales are in 12 and Northern have eight medals, no gold

medals yet but there is still ten -- time. The games may nearly be over

but there is still so much at stake. This is what is coming up. There's

badminton as Imogen Bankier and Robert Blair of Scotland take on

England Adcock and Adcock for a place in the mixed doubles final. We

will be live at the International hockey Centre, as England's men look

to emulate the women by making it to the final. We are closing out the

action at the pool in Edinburgh. This morning sees a certain Tom

Daley going in the ten metre platform preliminaries. And we will

check in as Australia face Jamaica for a place in tomorrow's gold-medal

match. So, still plenty to come and we have got some live action now

over at the Emirates Arena. It is badminton. Last time, the doubles

partners at the Olympics were Chris Adcock and Imogen Bankier but now

they are on opposing sides. Let's find out what will happen in this

one. It is going to be great. Let's join the commentators, Gill Clark

and Morten Frost Hansen. COMMENTATOR: I suppose this previous

encounters, the two previous matches between the pairs, both won by the

Scottish combination but both in three games, but surely, the fact

they have never lost to the English pair must give them confidence for

this semifinal? Absolutely. Obviously, it will give them

confidence but it is a new day today, a new match, a new

tournament. Everything can change. But looking back on the last eight

days of badminton here in Dargo, -- Glasgow, I must say that the Scots

are looking very good. On the other hand, I must say that especially

Chris Adcock is looking very shaky. He has not been playing up to his

usual standards. He has got to find that today, at this moment, if they

are going to go through to the final tomorrow. Yes. Not only is the

statistics against the English, but I also think that the performance in

the last eight days of Chris Adcock is against him. But let's see how it

goes. It is going to be a very interesting match and I am looking

forward to it. That is lovely. Good play. Even the

opening six points come here, Chris Adcock has played better than I have

seen for a long time, this week. -- six points, here.

The English pair, currently ranked number five in the world, and Robert

Blair and Imogen Bankier, 13. This is really world-class badminton.

He has missed it. I thought Chris Adcock and Andy Ellis in their men's

doubles quarterfinal yesterday evening, I don't think I have ever

seen them so nervous. They were almost crippled by nerves. Of

course, used the number one seed in both the mixed and the men's

doubles, so all the pressure is on him. -- he is the number one seed.

Yes, you can actually reverse this, in a funny, twisted way, if you

want. If you look at it, yes, Chris and Gabby are favourites to this

one, according to the seeding, but the mere fact they have not won

against this pair ever before, maybe they can say they are up against a

good pair that they have never beaten before, and therefore, they

are the favourites to win, and the pressure is on their shoulders.

Service full called, for striking the shuttle above the waist. --

service full. -- fault. Yesterday, when we saw Adcock and

Ellis, as you say, they looked totally crippled by nerves. Maybe,

as I say, in a kind of twisted way, they can see the Scots as favourites

and therefore, they don't have the same pressure on their shoulders as

they had yesterday, and suddenly, therefore, they can perform.

Another error at the front of the court from Imogen Bankier.

Yes, just shadowing how she should have played the shot. That is a

marvellous return of the quick serve from Robert Blair.

The England coach, Jakob Hoi, nearest to us.

Yes, I think what impresses me so much about Robert Blair is the fact

that he seems to think so well on court. His placement of his attack

always seems to involve Imogen Bankier at the front of the court.

Yes, user with trying to play his partner in. -- he is always trying.

That is one of the most important things in doubles, to play that way.

The Scottish coach, there, probably saying to move them from side to

side. Would that be of the back of the court? -- at the back. I think

so. Overdone it. There was a big gap across court and it was the right

shot to try. Yes, and it was into the backhand of bank year. -- Imogen

Bankier. Scotland, I have not seen them that much over the years, but

this week I have seen them quite a lot. To me, they are slightly slow

starters and once again, they have proved it. Let's see if they can

pick up. That is a good shot. Yes, lovely smash from Chris Adcock.

Yes, totally deceived by that, Robert Blair.

Superb. Good play. Gabby Adcock, in the women's doubles last night, was

outstanding. She has continued her good form in the semifinal of the

mixed. When you get the net and you come

off, you will win all of those rallies.

When they have got you on the walk, they are clipping it into court gave

a lot. You can go back slightly. So, the instruction from their

coach, did you catch it? Just a bit. The sound was quite overpowering but

I think he said they wanted more blocks, to get the initiative in the

early stages. Perfect, low serve, finding the line.

Now, that is what we think Andy was saying to the players, moving at the

back of the court, first won around the head and then whipping its deep

into the forehand corner. But he should have played a block, and just

maintain the initiative and waited for a better chance. Yes, the

frustration from Robert Blair. Now you will get one of my own small

little philosophies. If you look at it from the English perspective, it

is very important, here, for Chris Adcock to get into his own comfort

zone and not have to seek the approval of his coaches, the public,

and his partner, and all that. What he has got to look to do is to find

his own comfort zone, where he plays well, and not have to look around

for the approval all the time. If you can see, so often, he is looking

out to the crowd, to the coaches, to his partner and they are talking and

discussing but he has got to feel comfortable in what he is doing.

A very good rally by the Scottish pair, especially Imogen Bankier.

From your last comment, am I sensing that sometimes, Chris Adcock may be

so intent on trying to do what the coaches have done that he is not

playing instinctively? Yes. well worked. Gabby Really looking so

sharp at the net. It is obviously out of the picture but Chris is not

looking to the bench, he is getting to that zone himself, and that is so

important. He is playing with in stick, but he is cool, calm and

calculated with what he is doing but he is playing. I think the big

difference at the moment is the English pair are sticking to their

favoured formation and the standard formation the mixed doubles, the man

using his physical strength, obviously men are physically

stronger than women so it is best to have them playing from the back of

the court, thundering down the smashes, and women tend to be a lot

more agile than the men, and therefore the twisting and turning

at the front of the court suits the women's play. So obviously both

players want to play to their strengths, which is getting the

women forward using the man's strength from the back of the court.

And the English team is doing that better. That is why they are 16-12

up. It has gone wide. better. That is why they are 16-12

saw in that rally, the Scottish pair in the defensive formation, which is

to see players side-by-side in the court, whereas the English pair, one

forward, one at the back, that is the standard attacking formation.

Good defence. And ever so good recovery from the Scots here. They

got well back into that rally after being under severe pressure. I think

that shot there from Robert Blair really did it. That was a good

return. What great defence from Bankier.

Yes, that was perfect. They do still need a lot of recovery

here, though. The umpire just saying to the English pair, you are taking

too long between rallies, get yourselves ready. That was a good

block. Very, very nice block by Chris Adcock. Look again, he is not

looking out, he is not seeking that approval. He is sort of getting into

his own frame of mind. He is getting into the game, and that is rarely

important, I think. Yes, and it means he is playing a lot better

than we saw earlier in the tournament. He is playing the best I

have seen him play this tournament, all the way. Game points have

arrived for the English pair. Six of them. That is magnificent defence.

And that has gone long, first time of asking, and the number one seeds,

Chris and Gabby Adcock take the opening game 21-14, in 16 minutes.

So, Chris and Gabby Adcock with the opening Game 21-14, just the start

that the English pair wanted. You were able to listen in to both sets

of coaches there, that in your opinion what do the Scottish pair

have to do to turn this around? They have to challenge Gabby at the net,

and I think that is what the coaches said as well. Actually both coaches

from the English side and the Scottish side were saying you have

to challenge the lady at the front. And obviously that is the whole

game, but obviously the Scots have to do what Robert Ware is doing

here. That is beautiful, rather than dumping it and going in with that

really tough fence, he is just blocking it nicely away from her,

and that is the way to play it -- tough offence. Just block it. That

is why they got in trouble, she has got the challenge Gabby on that one.

That was good. He swayed his body out of the way to give himself the

freedom to play the defence there. And what is good, he is playing it

with the drift, and that is why the Scots played a lot of mistakes in

the first game. But Chris Adcock was able to control it here, which was

good. That is lovely. That is not bad!

That is what you want, or going forward more like that. Yes,

obviously it is a fantastic shot, this one, very ambitious, a good

shot but the whole idea is the right idea. Yes, she almost played that

with topspin, didn't she? Yes. Extraordinary. It was a risky. It

has occurred to me, Morten, Robert Blair laying two matches yesterday,

because he was in the men's doubles, and the comment you know,

at the age of 32, perhaps in international badminton on the world

tour he only sticks to one event. Do you think that has maybe affected

his sharpness in the semifinal? Not really, I think it was a little bit

of a blessing in disguise that he lost yesterday. And the fact that he

can focus completely on this mixed doubles, which I think they had a

brilliant chance of even a gold medal. Let's see how it goes here.

They are slow starters. They did not have a good first set. Scotland have

never won the gold medal in the mixed doubles.

The right idea. Yes, and I think for Scottish fans that will be a little

concerning that she is beating up on herself, shaking her head.

They ought to know that Gabby waits for that crosscourt smash with the

defence. Yes, that is far too much towards centre court. Yes, but all

credit to Gabby Adcock for dealing with that so well.

What a smash. That was good play by Gabby, the way she was moving

forwards and forcing Blair to lift it. Yes, sometimes we underestimate

the impact of movement off the shuttle, and how it can affect the

rally. We so often talk about in football, you know, the players off

the ball, and this is exactly the same. Yes. That was nice, now that

is moving Chris at the back of the court, which is what the Scottish

coaches wanted Bankier and Blair to do.

But the funny thing, a clear would have been very nice in that

situation. He opted to play down, and straight into the rally. Yes,

service fault was called. The umpire just confirming what the service

judge called. I don't think heard the call.

It is going wide, well wide, my goodness me. The Scottish pair will

have to be awfully careful here because I get the sense that the

English are beginning to really stamp their

It came off the frame of Chris Adcock's racket. Good serving, but

what a return. What a return from Gabby Adcock, there, clipping the

tape. And, as you say, the Scots really have to be careful now.

Yes, well, I am with you, Morten, I don't think I have seen the English

pair play as well as that this week. I've seen them play better in world

terms, but this is very, very good form they have played themselves

into. So the English pair a game up, and a

5-point advantage here at the mid-game in the ball. Yes, that is

well done. Morten, as we were watching one of those rallies again

during the mid-game interval, both you and I looked at each other about

Robert Blair's movement, certainly trying to lunge forward to the

backhand side. Did not seem all that fluent, really. No, he was not that

comfortable. I was paying a lot of attention to it. From what I saw, he

is either very stiff and sore from the previous matches, or he is

carrying a small little injury, I don't know, but that did not look

good. They have won the first two points. Since the resumption of

play. That is a good shot by Chris

Adcock. That is a soft crosscourt shot, that is really doing the

damage, setting off the nice lift. Once again, Gabby Adcock, absolutely

on top of the net, looking for the third shot of the rally, serve,

return and third shot, absolutely critical in doubles. Well, he will

be disappointed with that. They were on serve -- and error on serve. Here

is allowed to do it. He has played really well today. This is the first

kind of serious bad mistake. CHEERING

Good anticipation by Robert Blair. The next three points are going to

be crucial in this match. The Scots have to catch up, and if the English

are running away, I think this is it.

Yes. Well-placed. Very well placed. Once you have committed to the

backhand defence, Gabby spotted that and hips down Blair's forehand side.

-- hit down. Gabby Adcock, quite frankly, is on fire. Wonderful take

off the top of the tape. She is setting up so nicely for her

partner. CHEERING

Well, the Scottish parent simply have to start closing the gap. --

the Scottish pair. Time is running out for them.

Just having a quick time-out, maybe to compose their thoughts again.

Focus on the game plan. Well, the frustration almost boiling

over with Imogen Bankier. The disappointment is all too

obvious. The crowd, desperately trying to

lift the home players. On the attack once again. The

English pair. And once again, the Scottish pair forced to defend.

Well, I am not quite sure what Imogen Bankier was complaining

about, there. But in my opinion, it is another sign of her frustration,

as the English pair, now, are just three points away from being in the

final. If it has been a part of the game plan from the English

perspective, and the coach's perspective, it has been quite

brilliant, using the reverse psychology. The English pair may be

seeded number one but in their own mind, the Scots were favourites

because of the past results. It has definitely given Chris Adcock

the confidence. Yes. Just two points needed, now, for Mr

and Mrs Adcock. Oh, that is nice. Good play by

Blair. But he will not win it. And with that wonderful keel at the net

-- kill at the net, Gabby where she has been the whole match and now

England have the opportunity to book their place in the final.

the baseline. The new shuttle will be faster. They have to be careful

they are not lifting it for too long.

CHEERING That is it! Chris and Gabby Adcock

are guaranteed a medal because they will contest the mixed doubles final

tomorrow. Obvious disappointment for Robert Blair and Imogen Bankier. But

all credit to the English combination. They really took the

match to their opponents. They attacked more. They were more

positive. And Gabby Adcock, on her net play today, was absolutely

superb. 21-14, 21-14, in 35 and its. And they are through to the

final. -- 35mm is. Oh, my goodness, what a contrast in the body language

between the two pairs. You have to feel for the Scottish pair. They

must have come into this match knowing they had a chance. But they

were beaten by a better pair, today. They never got into the flow of the

game. That was all due to very good play by their English opponents. All

respect, well played by England. Well done to Mr and Mrs Adcock. In

the other mixed doubles semifinal, it is England against Malaysia, his

language and Heather Olver. -- Chris Langridge.

COMMENTATOR: It is noticeable that lie paging is unable to get to the

net and kill the shuttle. She is just pushing it back into play. Not

able to be the danger she was in yesterday 's quarterfinal. Again,

Heather Olver, ready to serve, and flicking the shuttle. Jean did not

have her racket down to say she was ready.

A beautiful little push to the back court, getting the short lived,

great play from Heather Olver. The crosscourt was too loose by Soon,

the athleticism by Heather Olver, moving across the net. The lows

serve lands short of the service line. -- low serve. It gives the

Malaysians and easy point. The opportunity was there, for

Heather Olver. She played a lovely net shot. But you can see, the

shuttle spinning at the net. UMPIRE: Change the shuttle. The players

normally wait until the shuttle is in the right position to kill it but

sometimes it is easy to drag the shuttle down when it is spinning so

much. It looks like an easy kill but with a spinning shuttle, it can be

quite difficult. Found the line. Langridge did not

like the fact they were appealing. Right on the line. What has enraged

him is that chant's hand was up immediately, claiming the point. --

if you would like to continue to watch the mixed doubles semifinal,

you can do, by switching -- but we are switching to gymnastics. We will

shortly be joined by some of the gymnasts. England are leading the

medals table with 140 medals to their name, and many of them are

thanks to the gymnasts. England's Kristian Thomas take the

silver. There is your Commonwealth champion, Scott Morgan from Canada.

Wales' Georgina Hockenhull takes bronze.

Elsabeth Black is the Commonwealth champion. A fine bid for yet another

medal. It does not come much better than this. Nile Wilson, and silver

is his just reward. He has done it, Daniel Purvis. A gold medal. And

Scotland goes crazy! It is a golden floor routine for the

golden girl. Take one pinch of sparkle, a of energy, and what do

you get? Claudia Fragapane. Oh, that is so impressive. Kristian

Thomas, you know what he can produce. This is beautiful work.

They do not use that term very often. What a way for Nile Wilson to

finish. A great baptism. I'm feeling a bit bad. I have got

quite a big couch to myself and there are four macro distinguished

guests crammed into the other one. I'm obviously very scary! Guys,

thank you so much for taking the time to come in and speak. I know

what a busy morning you have had. What time have you been up since,

doing interviews? Eight or nine? I thought you said 5am. That is

doing interviews? Eight or nine? I was having breakfast. Max, if you

just move your arm, I saw them was having breakfast. Max, if you

stacked up there, like a tower of medals all of a sudden. Claudia,

let's start with you first of all, we can take a look at some of your

fantastic work from this week. What an incredible week you have had. If

you were told last week you would be leaving with a whole load of medals,

I'm sure you would have been incredibly happy. Definitely, yes, I

was not expecting it at all. We were just hoping to get the gold as a

team and to come out with three more gold medals, absolutely amazing.

Just describe what it is like to watch this back, does it feel like

it is you watching you orders and feel like watching someone else on

television? It does not feel like that at all. Watching me do it, I

don't know how I do it! LAUGHTER It doesn't feel like it when I am in

the air. Imagine what it is like for your family, in that case. Yes, they

are very proud. I have been getting lots of messages from them how proud

they are of me. How different has it been after 24 hours, you were still

matching yesterday, winning medals yesterday, but when you start

appearing on programmes, becoming more recognisable, do you feel a bit

of a change? Yes, it has not really sunk in yet. It has been absolutely

incredible, just the whole experience. On your twitter feed, I

saw you had the heady heights of signing a hot dog, what was that all

about? I had no idea, some became up to me and said can I be a bit cheeky

and have you signed my hotdog? I wanted to have a bite, thought he

was going to give me some! There is a man lying in hospital filled up

with ink from a pen at the moment or something! Max, congratulations to

you too, where to start with your week, what has been your most

memorable moment? The whole lot has been an amazing experience for all

of us. The medal that stands out for me is the all-round final. For an

athlete and a gymnast, to go and perform six routines on each piece,

I am just so pleased to pull it off in a day. On the last one you went

in with a 2-point lead, but you did not hang back at all, you went out

as if you desperately needed to win that one. I set my targets before I

came out here, me and my coach, Scott, we knew what my target scores

were that I wanted to hit and that is what I am so pleased about, that

I managed to hit the 90 mark twice. So I am really over the moon, I

could not ask for more. What I liked about watching all of you guys, it

seems to be, even with the Scotland team, it is most like you are one

big team, you just happen to be wearing different colours. It

definitely is exactly like that, we have done the whole build-up

together at the same gym, so we knew how each other were trading. We

normally compete for Team GB, so we had been training together for many

years and we are great team-mates. Even though we were competing for

different countries here, it felt like we have been as one so it is

Willie nice. And the start of your week, how has it been? It has been

an incredible week, not just for myself, but for everyone to have

achieved what they have, it is incredible. Do you have a standout

moment from your two golds? From an individual perspective, the bars is

the one I wanted, and I have still not watched the routine back. So I

will be interested to see that and watch the corrections, building

further and looking forward to what is next. I read that you were going

to change your routine when you head into the worlds. Is it all about

constant improvement? It really is, all of us try to push each other

further and further, but just as individuals, but as a team, we want

to be striving for those medals. We will try to work on the executions

so we can work and bring out the best of us. Louis, it is great to

have you back. I just love how much you seem to have enjoyed just of

being back. So many big smiles the whole time. I have had an absolutely

amazing time. You know, it has been such an effort trying to get back to

where I am, and I think that is the relief of it all, I think. Knowing

how hard I have had to work to get back to where I am, and I can just

in myself. I haven't seen this bit, not bad! Obviously we had a bit of a

pick-up, losing Simon, that was quite hard for the team, and it is

quite easy to brush over that, but we had to really come over that, and

it is sad to not have him here with us but I think we have done

fantastically well as a team, as a nation. And we look forward to

having him back with us soon. Were you feeling pressure coming back at

all, because obviously your life has changed since the Olympics, you are

much more recognisable, people would come to watch you may be who are not

gymnastics fans, does that put a bit more weight on your shoulders? A

little bit. Since Beijing, the Olympic Games in London, you kind of

get used to the pressure and expectation, but it is also kind of

nice to have that. It keeps you on edge, keeps you sharp, so it is nice

to have that bit of pressure. And in relative terms, you obviously came

back to training later than the other guys who haven't actually

stopped, so where do you think you are? Are you where you hoped to be,

further on than you hoped to be? I would like to have been a bit

further, I am not going to lie, but I did not leave myself much time, I

kind of shot myself in the foot, getting back into it. But I am going

to train for the rest of the year and really see how I can do in 2015

and try to push to make the great Britain team. But right now we just

need bit of a break just to relax and look back. But not as long a

break as you took the first time. No, I am talking about a couple of

days, not a couple of years! Any regrets about taking those couple of

years at all? None at all. I have had some of the best times in my

life, kind every gathering life. Doing Strictly, that was another

opportunity to just experience something completely different other

than gymnastics, which I have answered I was four years old. I

have had a great time over the last couple of years -- which I have done

since I was four years old. It has definitely taught me to show a bit

more of my personality in the sporting world. As gymnasts, we are

quite well-behaved, and I know behind the camera these guys have

got fantastic, bubbly personalities, and it is about trying to get that

in the gymnastics performance and show people that gymnastics is fun.

Claudia, where do you think the strength and depth is in gymnastics

at the moment? It has been such a big week for the England team, also

for the Scotland team, but British gymnastics is in a really good place

at the moment. Yes, they definitely are, we are obviously such good

gymnasts, all of us, and we have progressed for a while now, and

hopefully we are getting better and better, and the results are still

room for improvement. Listen, thank you so much for dropping in, I know

it has been an incredibly busy morning so we really appreciate you

taking the time. Plenty more sport coming up on the BBC, what do you

know about hockey? Do you need to know a little bit more? Let's find

out. Hockey is a fast and fierce game

played by two 11 aside teams will stop there are five additional

substitutes who may be used and unlimited amount of times during a

70 minute match. Goals may only be scored from the shooting circle, a D

shaped arc. Suspension cards can be issued to players who commit fouls,

a green card results in an automatic two-minute suspension, while a

yellow card is a minimum five minute ban. Penalty corners can be awarded

for a variety of infringement and are taken from the backline, ten

metres either side of the goalpost, with five defenders allowed to enter

the shooting circle. If a score is tied at the end of the match in the

knockout stages, a penalty shoot out will take place. In Glasgow, with

the men's and women's competitions comprise of two pools of five teams

each with a top two in each pool progressing to the semifinal stage.

I am delighted to say that my gymnasts have morphed into hockey

stars, what and credible day it has been so far on BBC Three! We have

Olympic medallist Emily Maguire, Linda Clement, who has been the

Scotland captain, and Amy Gibson who is the goalkeeper. Ladies, I was

lucky enough to be down at Glasgow Green yesterday watching some

fantastic semifinals. We have got the men in action today, but what

has your Commonwealth experience been like? It has been absolutely

incredible. Just to have a Commonwealth Games in your home

city, your home country, it is an amazing experience, and to have been

a part of that, it has been amazing and I can't thank everyone enough

for all of the support. On Wednesday, we had a bagpiper playing

from the stands, it was just amazing to play in front of that. Did it go

as expected? You are probably disappointed to be speaking to me on

a Saturday when you could probably be warming up for other matches, but

how would you sum it up? Ultimately, we are disappointed with our finish,

we were pushing hard to get into the top four and we fell a bit short of

that. So yes, we are disappointed with our finish, but the whole

experience has been fantastic, as Emily said. Your thoughts? I do

agree with Linda, we are disappointed with our finish, but

our performances have been really good and we are happy with that sort

of aspect. But we will push for the results hopefully in later Games.

Linda, you have retired now, is that right? Yes, yesterday was my last

game for Scotland. The time was right, a really enjoyable career but

the time was right to hang up the boots. I spoke to Kate

Richardson-Walsh yesterday, and she said that she is now not definitely

retiring, still thinking about it. Do you almost want to think, can I

do a little bit more? Of the tournaments are fantastic, and you

get Fenwick variants like Glasgow and it makes you think, but I knew

that I was pushing hard for Glasgow for a long time and I knew that I

would be right afterwards to stop, and I am happy with that decision.

How do you think this semifinal, Australia- England, will pan out for

the men? Australia have been so strong, never dropped a title here

at the Commonwealth Games but it will be a big battle. It will be

at the Commonwealth Games but it exciting match, and I am really

excited to see the teams get out there. As you say, the Aussie men

had been really dominant for a while now, looking like a really class

team. But the English men had been really dominant for a while now,

looking like a really class team. But the Englishman as well, over the

past year or so, have really regrouped, they have free belt, and

come back really strong. So I think it will be a fantastic match to go

and watch. I am looking forward to seeing some great attacking hockey.

England have got the top scorer of the tournament so far in Ashley

Jackson, I imagined the Australian goalie will have been watching him

and they will be trying to mark him, obviously? Yes, I think he's caused

a lot of corners. They will not want to give away corners because he is a

definite threat from the top of the deed. He is a class player and they

will have to watch out for him. Would you like to predict this one

Linda? I am not sure. The Aussie men have been on good form, it will be a

close game but I think they might just edge it. We can head down to

the National hockey Centre here at Glasgow Green. They will be a great

match. -- it will be a great match. COMMENTATOR: England's bench

contains some very strong players, Henry Weir and Simon Mantell,

Mantell winning his 108th in Jewish cap, plus all of the Team GB caps.

Alistair Brogdon is on the bench, Phil Roper and Ollie will ours as

well. -- his 108th English cap. It is a tasty one. England against

Australia, it is not get much more mouthwatering than that, and in a

semifinal at the Commonwealth Games, it is right up there, certainly in

hockey terms. And the players and officials will now line up, ready to

be introduced onto the field of play. Along with the officials.

Martin Madden from Scotland, and Peter right from South Africa, who

will be overseeing this one. -- Peter Wright. Middleton and Knolls,

the captains of England and Australia respectively, going

through the coin toss. It is a pretty chilly morning in Glasgow,

the Australians with their short-sleeved shirts. -- Knowles,

the respective captains. The wind is taking the edge off the

temperatures. Australia in green and gold, their traditional colours.

England, white shirts, red shorts, and we are just about ready to go

here at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre. The first of two England-

Australia matches today. This men's semifinal, and then the highlight of

the day, as far as in the Shockey is concerned, in the women's gold-medal

match, England will face Australia. -- as far as England hockey is

concerned. And early start for these guys. Let's hear the introductions

from the stadium announcer. Number 12, Jake Whetton. Number 17, Aran

Zalewski. Number 18, Tristan White. Number 20, Matthew Swann. Number 23,

Daniel Beale. Number 25, Trent Mitton. Number 27, Kieran Govers.

Number 28, Karl Brown. Andrew Philpott. Andrew Charter. And number

31... Here is the England squad, starting with number five, Captain

Barry Middleton. Number one, goalkeeper George Pinner. Number

three, Dan Fox. Number six, Henry Weir. Number seven, Ashley Jackson.

Number eight, Simon Mantell. Number nine, Harry Martin. Number ten, Nick

Catlin. Numbered 11, Alastair Brogdon. Number 12, Michael Hoare.

Number 13, David Condon. Number 14, Mark Gleghorne. Number 15, Phil

Roper. Number 16, Adam Dixon. Number 17, Iain Lewers. And number 18,

Ollie Willars. CHEERING So, the introductions are complete.

Martin Madden and Peter Wright will now shake and with the players, and

the players will crossover briefly, for a quick nod and shake between

them. Not many pleasantries, you. Most of these players know their

opposite numbers pretty well. Now it is down to business, for a place in

the Commonwealth Games final. Kyle Brownhill winning his 115th cap

for Australia today. -- Kyle Brownhill. Winning his 150th cap.

But I think Brown has decided he just wants to focus on the match.

And that is what they are doing. Australia in green and gold, getting

into the huddle. England already set to go. We have got about 40 seconds

until the official start time. Australia will stay in their huddle

for a few final words between them, before they advance forward.

Well, this fixture promises much. Let's hope it lives up to the

billing. England, in their white shirts and red shorts, will be

attacking the goal to our left. Australia, in green and gold,

hitting from left to right, for a place in the Commonwealth Games

final. We are underway. England immediately forward courtesy

of Iain Lewers. Looking for Nick Catlin, the number ten. Swann.

Kyle Brown, his 115th cap, today. -- 150th cap. 35 minutes each way.

Good, crisp, precise passing early on from Australia.

The drizzle has just eased off for a moment. It has been pretty wet, so

the pitch is quite slow. I think we can expect a huge battle, here,

between these two sides. Australia have the pedigree. What they like to

try to do early is put a lot of pressure on the defence, to see if

they can get something early but England know that. They will want to

try today in this game as long as possible. The longer they can stay

in it, the more frustrated Australia will become.

It has fallen kindly for Australia, into the circle, looking for a ball

across. Penalty corner. Adam Dixon on the end of a bit of skill, there.

Kieran Govers am just finding the foot, quite simply and easily. It is

a bit of a soft corner. If the ball hits a defender's foot in the

circle, in the D, the attacking team have a penalty corner. Australia

discussing their options. The England defensive line get their

protective gear on, ready to try to keep it out.

The first penalty corner of the game. Australia, lined up and ready

to pounce. It has come their way. And it finds the back of the net!

What a start for Australia. Tristan White puts Australia 1-0 in front.

George Pinner looks a little sorry for himself, the England keeper.

That was not in the game plan at all, the ball to the right-hand

option at the top, clever little switch, fooling the England defence.

George Pinner was looking for it on the other side but it was round his

feet. He will be disappointed about that, through his legs, a tall guy,

sometimes difficult to get your feet moving quickly but a soft goal for

England to concede this early in the game, really. The best possible

start for Australia, taking the lead within three minutes, here. Chris

Ciriello for Australia. Normally, their penalty corner specialist.

Coming from the centre of defence and nudging it forward. Matt Gohdes

takes it quickly. Too strong. This is definitely something England had

not planned on but they would is definitely something England had

thought about this in training, and worked out how to try to get back.

-- get back from an early goal down against any side.

-- get back from an early goal down not the easiest to get out of

defence against. Mark Gleghorne, sliding in to pick it up but it will

be an Australian ball. The little up and over, looking for

the corner but it bounces beyond any Australian sticks. Matt Gohdes, the

number 16, for Australia. Dan Fox, looking around, checking

out his options. Sharp movement here, from Australia,

as they look to build another attack. Swann is always lively in

midfield. Knolls, Australia's captain, his

244th cap today. -- Mark Knowles. Fox, trying to clear for England but

it is bouncing around and it will be an Australia hit.

Up over the top, delicately done, and well taken. Free hit, quickly

taken and England try to recover. It breaks away, kindly for England, and

Nick Catlin, on the right, if he can just keep an English stick on the

ball, and allow the support to gather. That is the pressure that

Australia put on the ball carrier, particularly when they lose the ball

high, they like to win it back straight away but England need to

steady the ship little bit. They are rocking from the early goal

conceded. They want to put a few passes together, move up as a group,

and not get too stretched. Looking at the first penalty corner, a great

move by George Pinner will be disappointed it went through his

legs. Not a good start. -- but George Pinner. Swann with a little

burst of acceleration forward. A backhand pass upfield was high and

it will be England ball. Ashley Jackson is the leading scorer in the

tournament, with seven. Nick Catlin, trying to give England

an opportunity, through the legs of the Australians, looking for a way

through to the circle but Australia breakaway. Trent Mitton is charging

down the centre. Australia with three men in the D. They attack in

numbers, don't they? They are very adept at just finding a free hit

when they need it, as well as getting the space forward but they

commit players forward whenever they get an opportunity. England, at the

moment, finding it hard to get anyone forward with the ball, with

possession. Middleton tries to find Nick Catlin but the ball is stolen

by Zalewski, who is weaving a dangerous path into an attacking

position for Australia. But cleared. Iain Lewers, doing the good

defensive work. Swann goes quickly round Martin and

heads towards the D. Solid defence by Michael Hoare. Slightly trapped

in the corner, though. England get the hit in.

The rain is starting to intensify again. The weather has been pretty

miserable this morning in this part of Glasgow. This is a bit of a

slower pitch than the guys are used to playing on. And with the wet

weather this morning, it is slowing it down even more, the more rain.

The wetter the pitch and the slower the ground is becoming. It does not

really suit either team. Pushed out by Australia. Jackson will drop back

and take this again. All the way to the goal line and in towards the D,

goes around one. Nothing is the call from the umpire as England hopes to

get a penalty corner decision. WHISTLE

That is how wet it is. Jake Whetton, sliding along, getting absolutely

drenched. Ashley Jackson trying to work

something into the deep but the ball got too far

something into the deep but the ball Sometimes he tries a bit too hard to

do it on his own when things are not going well for England.

Jackson, all the way back to defend, playing it off to Phil Roper.

England, looking for an exit, here. All they find is Australian sticks,

as Jackson has a go, trying to carve his way out of there. This is

better, from Middleton, the captain. Good acceleration, driving forward,

and off an Australia stick. Great tackle by Iain Lewers, there.

On the reverse side. Swann, trying to weave his way around. It is not

out of there, yet. Australia attack again and the foot is outside of the

D. REFEREE: Guys, guys, everybody, calm down. We know you want to take

it quickly but it needs to be right as well. It is the same for them

getting out of the way. So England and Australia, the semifinal of the

compost, calm down? It's not going to get very far, I did think. I know

he's trying his best but all the boys want it and they are trying to

keep the intensity of the game up, take free hits quickly, get forward

quickly. Fox has let it go and it has fallen

kindly for Australia, a reverse shot and it is in explanation mark 2-0,

scored by Simon Orchard. -- it is in! Well, that is a mistake by Dan

Fox, trying to get out of a difficult position, he gets mugged.

Orchard, well, again, he gets the ball on the top of the D and takes

it to the backhand side and fires across the front of George Pinner,

into the corner. That is a good goal. England counterattack on all

the way to the D. Appealing for a penalty corner and Nick Catlin

getting really angry with the umpire. Being told to shut up in no

uncertain terms. Philpott. Having watched Australia

play against India, they looked a bit honourable but they have looked

very strong here against England. Australia still haven't got six of

their team that played in the World Cup, Jamie Dwyer is missing. The

Yong is missing. Hammond. Penna makes the save. -- George Pinner

makes the save. They are pressuring his goal all the time, Australia.

This one goes behind. Yes, another shop there, finding space. Orchard

puts the ball through. Look at that speculative attack by the Aussies.

All the way downfield, looking for Phil Roper. Roper, waiting for

support to arrive. , temp Condon for England. Catlin. A foot

outside of the deed. Jackson. -- outside of the D. Jackson will take

this one. Lewers. England coming forward to the edge of the circle, a

chance to get this in front of the Australian goal. It is behind, it

will be a long corner for England. Adam Dixon will take it.

A good, sustained period of pressure from England. Jackson. Jackson goes

backwards. England will try and build from the other side. The cross

to Michael Hoare. Inside two Catlin. -- inside the Catlin. Australia

break forward, only as far as Jackson. Green card, Ashley Jackson

has to sit it out A good little period from England,

but they need to try to get something out of it. It shows the

difference. Jackson is fighting hard for his team. Orchard, the scorer of

Australia's second. Novels, the captain. Australia, that was right

in the midriff, taken by Lewers. He took one for the team. England

breaking. Chance for England. Shot on goal! Good defence from

Australia. The goalkeeper not needed in the end. Gleghorne, high ball,

looking for Catlin. A good little attack thereby England, two against

one, but I felt that the forward running in here went too close to

the goalkeeper on the same line. If he had come out there, he would have

had a better chance, Brogdon. Not quite firing together, those two

forwards, Brogdon and Condon. Australia 2-0, less than 20 minutes

of the half to play. Australia threatening England's defence once

again. Delivery was poor. It goes behind for an England ball. Of the

lovely aerial through the Kieran Govers. England did well, forced him

wide. It looks like another card. Australia punished, this time. Matt

Gohdes gets a green. Yes, for an unfair challenge on Nick Catlin.

Matt Gohdes sits down for a couple of minutes, so shortly Jackson will

return to the of minutes, so shortly Jackson will

have a man over. In ice hockey, they call that a power. -- a power play.

Australia just happy to back it around, and then go high and look

for a long aerial ball towards Beale, who can't get anywhere near

it. England back to full strength, and they have a man over while Matt

Gohdes sits out the next 90 seconds or so. Dixon. Weir. Nice ball down

the line played precisely to Barry Middleton. Australia claim it was

out, the umpire tells them exactly what happened. Orchard, Ockenden

spread it to the left. Swann takes it down the centre for Australia.

Swann the knolls -- towards Knowles. Swann unceremoniously barged off the

field of play by Gleghorne there. Yes, good pressure from England.

Just forcing the free hit really. Australia very good at getting out

of a difficult situation, winning free hits when it gets close down.

Ockenden. Gleghorne. Weir. Weir tangling with the Australian. The

Australians have poached it again, attacking England's goal, first

shot, saved from George Pinner. Another attack from Australia. Matt

Gohdes is there, George Pinner equal to him. Weir, over one stick, cut

out by the second. Fox takes it for England, quickly. Fox looking for

options down the centre with Lewers, into the D.

England with a shooting opportunity, gloved away, and it is

safe for Australia for the moment. Very called by Andrew Charter there.

A nasty ball for defenders to deal with. Harry Martin gets on his nose,

but look at that, Jackson not quite able to get a stick on that and this

is the shot down the other end, Matt Gohdes coming in, crashing it in,

and look at that forward diving in. Good steal. Now the clock is

stopped. The umpires are in discussion. There has been a yellow

card shown to the Australian captain, Mark Knowles. I think they

must have had an extra player on the pitch again for a short period of

time, so the captain has been taken off.

OK, there you go. REFEREE: You have still got 11 players on the pitch,

someone else needs to go off. I can't help laughing at this, the

basic premise is you have 11 players on the pitch, someone gets sent off,

and you should have ten players on the pitch. The captain get a card

for that. Just to double check, you should be ten. Are we, or not?

LAUGHTER With the constant rolling

substitutions, it can get a bit confusing, but it should be 11

aside, unless people are out with a card. We need another person with a

job of counting people on the pitch all the time. Yes, it has cropped up

a few times during the Commonwealth Games hockey tournament. It started

in the World Cup when England played in the World Cup when England played

Argentina, Argentina had a guy sent off and then put somebody on

accidentally for two minutes. It could have been going on for some

time with nobody noticing. So the result of all that is that Mark

Knowles has a yellow card, which involves a five minute sit down, so

England have a man over for the next five minutes. The Aussie captain off

game for the moment. Let's CEF England can take advantage of this

situation. Australia ball. I find myself, in these situations,

constantly counting to see how many players are on the pitch -- lets see

if England can take advantage. The only thing that matters at the

moment is the score, I'm afraid, from England's point of view, but,

happily for Australia, they are leading 2-0. During the England

women's semifinal yesterday against New Zealand, there was a similar

situation. New Zealand had a player over and it was the England men

watching from the stands spotted it, one of their eagle eyed players

spotted there was an extra player on the pitch for New Zealand, let the

bench know, and New Zealand consequently had a player sent off.

It was their captain, Whitelock. speed. 13 and a half minutes of this

first half to play. The weather improving very slightly. The rain

has eased up, the wind has dropped a tad. Philpott for Australia. Good

pick-up at full stretch on the deck from Iain Lewers. Then he looks for

support behind. This is what Australia do really well, they make

it so hard for the defences to get the ball out and higher up the

pitch. They work very hard to cut down the options, particularly

through the middle of the pitch, and then they closed in like this, three

men on the ball carrier. Jackson finds his captain, Middleton. We

might need a bit of Middleton magic, just to get England back in this

game. Hoare. Jackson. Fox fires it in. England can't attract it. Now

they have possession, edging towards the D. England still in Australia's

half of the field. Hoare, into the D. No penalty corner, that is what

they were hoping for, it will be a free hit for Australia. Knowles is

an influential defender in the middle for Australia and you can see

they are in a little bit of disarray. If England can just put a

bit of pressure on them, they have another couple of minutes without

Knowles on the pitch. Highball. Oh, beautiful control in the air, and a

lovely pass as well to Orchard. Australia look menacing. Heading

towards Penna macro's goal. -- Pinner's goal. A swing and a miss,

England ball. High ball. Looking for Jackson on the right. Can't control

it. Jackson has not had a lot of chance to get into this game yet.

England have not had a lot of ball. Definitely one of the most talented

players on Park Definitely one of the most talented

the ball on his stick in Definitely one of the most talented

can do lots of damage. He Definitely one of the most talented

passing ability. Swann, lovely play from him, releasing Fergus Kavanagh

on the right, pushes it towards Beale. Beal takes it quickly, slalom

is his way towards the shooting circle, fired in, tidied up,

England, way down the right, a collision between Mark Gleghorne and

one of the Australians, Ciriello, who is a big unit. Takes a bit of a

crunch to flatten him. Gleghorne managed it. Yes, Chris Ciriello just

got himself in the wrong position, didn't he? Flat footed, had already

kicked the ball, and he knew he was in the wrong so he tried to get out

of the way but was slightly off-balance. Middleton and Iain

Lewers. Middleton has a turn and a look. Now a little burst of

acceleration, decent looking ball but Australia, aware of the danger,

reacting quickly. A good path from Michael Hoare,

finding Dan Fox on the right. A poor pass from Fox, though.

Yellow card over, Mark Knowles is back on the pitch. 11 a side once

again. I'm just going to count, to check!

Philpot, for Australia. Back to Ciriello. Over on the left, Mark

Knowles, who has just returned Ciriello. Over on the left, Mark

the field of play. Into the last ten minutes of the first half, Australia

2-0 England. Nick Catlin, calling for it on the

left-hand side. He was in space. Middleton did not see him.

Ockenden, running one of his darting runs again. Orchard, for Australia.

George Pinner had to react, and a flying stick as well as a spinning

ball. Chris Ciriello, holding it up and

calming down for a split-2nd, and leaving it for Orchard. He is happy

to go back to Mark Knowles. Ciriello, through the legs of

Jackson. It is a good move forward. Swann, lively again. The ball is

kept in solidly by Daniel Beale. And a good, sustained period of pressure

from Australia. Can England clear this? They have. Avoiding any feet

on the ball and any penalty corners. A little flick behind. Iain Lewers

with a crucial touch for England. Nick Catlin, looking around. He has

got Brogden to his left. But he looked for a second too long. At the

moment, Australia winning the midfield battle. You would think

with the players they have got in their previous god, all the midfield

players, they would be struggling -- without the players they had in

their squad. But they have so much strength in depth in that area that

they are causing England huge problems. And Australia are really

bossing the game, playing the ball around, making England work, sapping

the energy of the side in white. Zalewski's pass is a beauty, all the

way down to Australia's number 16. And into the deep. England have two

clear this. Shooting opportunity. -- into the D. No penalty corner.

Anxious looks from the England players, as the umpire's whistle

blew. England cannot really afford to let any mooring. They have done

well just to hang on in this game at the moment. -- any more in. They

just have to hope they can put something together, get a corner and

the other end, or a breakaway. They need some possession, which has been

lacking in the last five minutes. Matt Gohdes is on to this, but only

as far as Catlin. Spreading it to Jackson who takes it on himself. He

is held on and Matt Gohdes recovers after he loses possession. -- held

up. High ball forward. Such discipline in defence from

Australia. manoeuvre. Zalewski, back to Mark

Knowles. Shadowed by Mantell. It is a good move. Matt Gohdes,

edging towards the shooting circle. Backhand cross delivered but a

little too high for Australia. Paul and Graham on the sidelines must be

happy with this performance. They are keeping England under huge

pressure, England cannot put a stick on the ball and make any meaningful

inroads at the moment. England are not getting any space, as soon as

there is an England player on the ball, he is surrounded. That is the

way Australia play, they make it so difficult all the time. Once you get

your head down, that is it, they will close you down. You have to

know what you want to do almost before you get the ball. Ashley

Jackson winning possession for England. And Australia player is

down but England continue attacking. It is kicked behind and now the

Australia player can get some attention. He looks like he's in

trouble. Is it Daniel Beale? Or is it Zalewski?

UMPIRE: Can I get some help on for you? The physio has been called. It

is Daniel Beale. Both he and Zalewski were down. I think he did

his knee, did he? It looks like it is his leg, his knee or his ankle.

Actually, I think it is his ankle. The clock has stopped at four

minutes and 27 seconds. He looks in trouble, doesn't he?

Number 23, for Australia. It just kind of collapsed underneath him.

Daniel Beale, hobbling off the field of play. He has been replaced

immediately by Jacob Whetton, who has come on Frost ready. I think he

just rolled his ankle in the melee. Come on for Australia. He probably

tweaked his ligaments but he seems OK. They will put a bit of ice on it

and I should think he will be back on in short order. What I noticed,

while the game was shut down, all the Australians got in a huddle

together and England were standing around waiting. The Australians

obviously decided to have a quick team talk. Ashley Jackson loses his

stick and possession. High ball, and a big chase on for Trent Mitton. He

has got good speed and he is into the circle. He plays it back and the

penalty corner for Australia. That is all he was looking for. There was

no other option for him. Iain Lewers, well, he would have known

that but he still could not get out of the way. Good skills by Trent

Mitton but if you look, here, well, it just clicked his toe, didn't it?

Iain Lewers unfortunately could not get out of the way. Six penalty

corners, six shots on goal from Australia. Australia in deep

discussion about what is going to happen, near. Zalewski will inject.

-- what is going to happen, here. Australia lined up.

Australia's penalty corner. England have dealt with it so far.

Australia's penalty corner. England have They clear their lines. Better

defence from the England defensive unit on that corner. Middleton.

Harry Martin. Good ball skills. Just a metre to far. But he retains

possession for England. Less than three minutes for them to get

involved in the scoring in the first half. Australia 2-0 England.

Mark Gleghorne tried to pick it up but it bounced over his stick, and

Australia will fancy another attack or two before the first half comes

to its conclusion. Andrew Philpott. Back to Mark Knowles.

Dan Fox but only as far as Andrew Philpott, who has found Trent

Mitton, who holds it up. Backhand cross, taken sharply by Trent

Mitton. But no touch available for Jacob Whetton, who was riding in. --

sliding in. Quick thinking by Trent Mitton, a twisted his backhand,

putting the ball across to Jake Whetton and he was not far away.

England have done well to come back after their early... Well, a

calamitous start, really. It was a very early goal that they let in,

and a bit of a mistake for the second one. Since the 11th minute,

they have come back, worked themselves back into the game,

certainly in the middle part of the pitch. They have yet to make many

inroads up front. A chance, here. They need numbers forward.

Australia's ability to escape from defence is absolutely outstanding.

Iain Lewers, firing it down the right to Fox.

Iain Lewers, firing it down the the half.

Michael Hoare losing his stick. 30 seconds left and England can still

come forward. Iain Lewers with a lovely pass. Build towards the D,

via an Australian edge. -- drilled towards. That might just be that for

the first half. The clock is ticking down, ten seconds, high ball, in.

the first half. The clock is ticking down, ten The umpire blows his

whistle and the crowd will count down from five. Oh, they are a bit

cold and wet. The hooter has sounded for the end of a half dominated by

Australia. An early goal from White, backed up by the second goal from

Orchard, and the scoreline at half-time makes good reading for

Australia. So, England are trailing Australia

at the moment and we will discuss the first half in just a few

minutes. But first, let's get the news headlines from around the

world. We've got factory boys and butchers'

apprentices and office clerks Don't stop moving!

If you go back you'll die! Good morning. Do not pack items in

your hand luggage, that is the advice after this week 's problem is

with baggage handling. Outrage in Australia after a couple abandoned a

baby when they found out he had down syndrome. ?70,000 has been raised to

help them. Palestinian militants say they don't know where a missing

Israeli soldier is, and the Palestinian have been accused of

capturing him. He signed the New York City last month but now Frank

Lampard could be on his way back to the UK. The former Chelsea

midfielder is on the verge of joining Manchester city on loan.

Each figure represents a life lost in the First World War. 5000 tiny

models made of ice will appear in Birmingham today and the special

memorial will melt away a few hours later. More later. But right now,

act to the hockey. Yeah, I am looking for

a Prince Charming. I don't think I'm ugly, but I don't

think I'm, like, really pretty. I say, "You've got something

on your bum." "Really?" And I say, And it's about time

that I did something about that. Hello, and welcome back. We are

talking all things hockey, and I am delighted to say we have Emily

Maguire, Linda Clement and Amy Gibson on the sofa. Australia seem

in command against England. It was a great start of the game from

Australia, looking really dominant in the opening stages and I was a

bit worried with the English boys out there, but they have managed to

claw their way back into the game. They have had a couple of

opportunities themselves. They will be a

They have had a couple of opportunities themselves. little bit

disappointed not to have corner opportunities. They need to get

Ashley Jackson flicking from the top of the circle. He would be one of

their main goal scorers, so to give him a opportunity would be key to

their chances. Amy, Australia had six shots at goal, two of them went

in, they marked out what they wanted to do from the very offset, didn't

they? Yes, looked for the slap option at the top of the D. It went

through George Pinner's legs, I don't think he would be too pleased

with that but the second shot was very impressive, right in the

corner. He will be disappointed it went through his legs, but he has

picked himself up and made a few good saves after the goals have gone

in and kept his team in it. He has picked himself up after the goals.

Do the conditions make a difference version market is pretty wet over at

Glasgow Green at the moment. Not particularly, it is not affect your

vision, most people are used to it. It should not be too much of a

factor. The first goal was Tristan White, the second was Simon Orchard,

and at that point it looked as though the floodgates might start

open. Yes, two early goals and the English might have been worried at

that stage. The Aussies are really threatening every time they attack.

We can just take a look at this one now. Good elimination skills, and

bang, right in the corner, a difficult one to try and stop.

England just haven't had many opportunities. I think they had to

attempt at goal and could not get either of them in, but you need to

be to get the ball first before you can score the goals. Absolutely.

That is just one of the key parts of it. The Australian players just go

out and really dominate. They just seemed to want it more than everyone

else they play against. They go out there and they play very hard and

strong, and it is difficult to get the ball off them once they have got

it. It will be disappointing for any player to get to the stage and not

take part in the final. We saw Daniel bailed getting a bit of an

injury. Does not look good -- Daniel Beale. Do you think something has

gone? It is quite difficult to tell but at the business end of the

tournament you would be hoping you would be able to play. He will

hopefully be all right for the final. It would be disappointing for

any player to miss it at this stage. It has been an intense year for

hockey, with tournaments, especially at the Commonwealth Games, so many

intense games in such a short period of time. How much does that take its

toll? Australian men are a fit bunch, so I don't think fitness will

be a factor. Hopefully he will be all right. What kind of discussions

will be going on, this is maybe one for you Linda, to bring a team back,

and what would you girls be looking for your captain to say to you at

this stage? Hopefully, the captain will be in there, Barry Middleton,

telling them just to believe. Only two goals down, not a lot to come

back from, they just need to believe in the second half they can go out

there and get the corners. What would you say to them, Linda? I

would be saying we are firmly still in the game, just keep a defensive

platform, try to keep the Aussies out as much as possible and when

they are up there try to get shots in the circle, on target, and win

some corners. What Australia want to do now, Amy, is go out and get an

early goal and set the second half up. We have just outlined it, Inman

will be wanting to get out there and scored two goals, and in men's

hockey you can turn that around quite quickly, so they will be

looking to do that and put their mark on the game really early, and

just say, you are not back into this, if they get an early goal that

will almost kill off English chances, Australia, early doors in

the second half. Linda, when you go out to face a team like Australia

have such a flawless record here, it does not matter if it is the women

or the men, is it a psychological barrier involved in that as well, do

you think, for some teams? Absolutely, but the Australian men

and women are playing very well at the moment. You have to go into

every game of hockey believing you can win, absolutely, and respect

them as a team, but not fear them as a team, just try to take the game to

them. The second half will be getting underway shortly. One thing

I noticed down there yesterday was the atmosphere has been absolutely

fantastic. Could you girls feel that, because you must've had the

majority of the support throughout the last ten days? Yes, it has been

amazing. I can't say enough about how proud it has made me and the

rest of us to play in front of that crowd. I said earlier on about

playing in front of bagpipes, I have never had that before, so that was a

great experience and it definitely drives you on. It just gives you

that extra little edge when you don't think you have anything left.

Amy, did you have lots of friends and family here? Yes, lots of

friends and family, and they did not often get a chance to see me so it

was great to have them around. And the thing is it is not just for you

guys, you know, when your match finished yesterday, there seemed to

be a whole load of English fans and then the next thing you knew there

were a whole load of New Zealand fans, they are cheering for

everything, and the support will be equally good this morning for

Australia, and for England as well. It has been great. Everyone has been

coming out and there will be a lot of non-hockey fans out there, just

coming along to see a new sport, having a great day out. It has been

an incredible atmosphere. It will be an incredible second half, let's

rejoin our commentators. COMMENTATOR: We are ready for the

second half. Australia lead England's 2-0, and now Australia in

their green and gold will be attacking the goal to our left.

England with lots to do, plenty to think about, following the half-time

team talk from Bobby Crutchley. What they need is a goal, an early goal,

just to give England confidence that they can get back into the

semifinal. Australia have the first attacking move of the half, with

Kieran Govers heading towards the corner, the Australian number 27, he

delivers the ball across. It will be England's hit in. Dan Fox coming up

to take it for England. He leaves it for Iain Lewers. Lewers back to Fox.

Fox trying to run down the right, he runs in the Beale, who finds Mitton.

White. Ockenden. Into the D. George Pinner taking no chances, kicking it

away. Kieran Govers looking to nudge that into the path of Orchard up

front there. So, Pinner busy in the first couple of minutes of the

second half. WHISTLE Australia now camped out in this

attacking zone. England can break. Swann for Australia. Brown on the

left, acres of space in front of Brown. Well read, well dealt with by

Hoare. His pass to Jackson is held up for England. Ockenden.

Govers in the circle, looking for some service here. Ockenden steps up

to take it. Knowles. Into the corner, plenty of time and space

here for Australia, they will be looking for an England foot on the

ball. It almost felt to Govers. -- it almost fell to Govers. Just a

moment of relief for England as the umpire blows in their favour. The

little ball here finds White on the foot.

umpire blows in their favour. The little ball here finds Australia

finding an extra man on the backline. Orchard. Ciriello.

Knowles. Knowles a crossfield to Matthew Swann.

Michael Hoare gets his stick on the ball. Can he get out of this little

jam? He can. Lewers. Quick movement for England and Fox has it, via

Jackson. That was off the third of Ciriello. Jackson will take the free

hit. Michael Hoare. All the way down the

line, sliding pick-up attempt. No luck for David Condon. Mitton.

Mitton, great skills from Mitton to get himself into space there,

drilled forward for Australia. WHISTLE

Now, England with an opportunity to get something into the shooting

circle. They need to stay on their feet. Brogdon plays it all the way

back to Hoare. A high ball from Iain Lewers, looking for Fox. Fox flicks

it on, and sadly Catlin could not control it. England finding space

now but Miss controlling the ball, so they have done some little good

things, they are getting behind this Australian team on the last couple

of occasions, but they are just failing to control it. Orchard for

Australia, holds it up and runs towards the D. Back towards Swann,

Swann inside to sell loosely. Ockenden into the circle -- to

Zalewski. Well trapped by Henry Weir. A bit of

space opening up for England. Well trapped by Henry Weir. A bit of

space opening Nick Catlin's cross, just off the foot. The Australian

goalkeeper, Andrew Charter. Encouraging signs for England here.

A great ball in there from Nick Catlin. Good signs, as you say, for

England. They are finding space is now at the back of the Australian

defence. Australia head towards the circle, a

chance for the shot on goal saved by George Pinner. Australia fancy

another chance, this one is behind. Corner for Australia. Good work by

Australia, a great shot in by mixing it, but George Pinner was equal to

him this time. Andrew Philpott will sit out the

card here for Australia. Andrew Philpott will sit out the

next couple of minutes. Mantell provides the cross.

Henry Weir goes left to the edge, picks it up. Dealt with by

Australia. Aran Zalewski comes away with it for Australia, only as far

as Henry Weir. Sharp passing from England here,

writes to the edge of the D. A chance for a shot on goal. They are

looking for a penalty corner, but non-is given. You have got to keep

playing. Australia are tough, and you have to be tough in that area.

A bit of magic from Barry Middleton. That is what England need. They need

to get back in that circle as soon as possible. England have to leave

it behind. This was the push. It was shoulder on the shoulder. On another

day, they could have got a penalty corner for that.

England really need to make some of this pressure count. They have done

well and been able to get high into the Australian defence, particularly

when they had ten men. They are now back to 11, so that little hole has

blocked off. Philpot is back on for Australia. It doesn't help when the

ball fires straight off the side of the pitch, because England need to

get hold of that ball higher up the pitch, if they are going to do

anything with it. Australia have got the? Goals and are be happier of

the? Teams at the moment. Brogden slips and slides into an

attacking position. Jackson takes it up for England. England have not

finished yet. Michael Hoare drive it into the D, only as far as an

Australian stick. Australia are getting in front of the England

forwards and are cutting the ball out.

Players down everywhere, to make English players down,

Players down everywhere, to make Aussies is down and hurt as well.

Brogden got in the way there, and obstruction, and fell over. Long

ball to Mark Knowles. Good take for England, dealt with by

Mark Gleghorne, he was robbed of possession. Matt Gohdes almost with

a chance to break into space. That is where Australia thinks quickly,

they win the ball high, and then they are away. It did not come off

them. But they are thinking, Australia, England are playing a bit

better now. Still yet to win anything meaningful upfront yet.

Ashley Jackson for England. He it quickly. Nick Catlin just could

not make contact. Taken by surprise, he was not expecting the ball to

reach as far as his position. Australia with possession. England

have 22 minutes to score twice. A backhand shot, over the top. Ollie

Willars getting that backhand shot in, but Eddie Ockenden closed down,

got a stick on it over the bar, so it is a long corner.

The bushes, we are catching the end of the bushes, I know what is

happening, cut it out. I don't want to do it, that is why I am speaking

to you. OK? Pretty clear with his instructions,

a little threat to the players for pushing. He nearly put his hand in

his pocket. Eddie Ockenden got out quickly. He pushed the ball over the

bar. Long ball for Australia from one end of the field to the other.

It is behind. A silly mistake... That is looking for Michael Hoare.

The umpire gave the freeze it for two players being under the ball and

being dangerous to the defence. That is to be easy, and that is what

Australia do. As soon as the first free yet goes, that is when they put

their intensity in. A quick spin on the foot, and it is too easy. That

is what we have just told you we are watching for.

Australia are still discussing their options here. Chris Ciriello might

be there go to man here, the number five. He is lined up ready to take

this one. Australia's penalty corner, already 2-0, looking for

their third. It comes to Chris Ciriello. Saved.

Pressure over. Chris Ciriello went to the right, but saved by Michael

Hoare, or cleared by Michael Hoare, off the line. Well done.

Ashley Jackson on the left for England. The lead scorer in the

tournament with seven. Can he adds to his tally? England have a goal!

They are back in the match. David Condon's goal for England. He took

the ball down the back line and forced that pressure in the back of

the Australian defence. A lovely run by Ashley Jackson, look at that

fantastic little ball off his backhand, and David Condon forces it

back. It looks like it went back to Phil Roper it eventually, but a

little ball inside to Jackson. David Condon found Roper. It could have

been any of them. It could even have come off the foot of the defender,

but great pressure thereby England, and they get their reward. Australia

have moved playback to be at the end of the field. Less than 18 minutes

to play. Australia threaten again. England with some momentum. Nice

work from Govers. We think Harry Martin has been

awarded the goal, and meanwhile, Australia almost to score another

one. That was close! Alastair Brogdon there got a chance, put it

at the keeper and did what he had to do, but did not really get a hold of

it. Australia coming forward in numbers again.

Taken quickly. Cleared by George Pinner. Lovely aerial there. It

comes down to Alastair Brogdon. Plenty of attempts on goal in the

last ten minutes. It is all happening. Kieran Govers with a

missed shop there. Just over 16 minutes left to play. The game has

suddenly opened up, and England have more confidence. They are retaining

possession up high, but Australia are hitting back as hard as they

can. Into the danger zone, as far as

England are concerned. Nice work by Dixon to clear England's lines. Into

the corner. They find a way out of here, trying to go up stairs.

a couple of men forward. He cannot provide any service. High ball. The

keeper gets right to the edge of the circle. He read that really early.

He came up before the pass was played to be the sweeper on top of

the circle for Australia. The Australian was held up and he did

not like it come he continues on his way. Lots of attacking play, deep in

the second half now. Mantell for England. Back to we're'

Ashley Jackson, the creator of England's goal. Jackson to Nick

Catlin. He tries to run all the way round to deliver the ball in and

meanwhile Australia have come away with it. Middleton tries to tidy it

up for England. He gets England possession here. Michael Hoare plays

it forward to Dan Fox. There is space for England here. He flicks it

down the right. Martin. The scorer of England's goal. No Australian

feet on the ball. England have got possession. Highball forward.

Looking for Jake Whetton. Barry Middleton, let's see if he can be

creative for England. Pushes it behind. It will be an Australian

ball. That looked like a big tackle for nothing, Barry Middleton

crossing his stick. A wry smile. England have pushed their way back

into the game come if they can just make another one... That is what

they will be trying to do, putting Australia under pressure, but

Australia have had too much for them in the skill department. Swann at

speed. A bit of synchronised diving. Mark Gleghorn and Swann clashing.

Getting a bit of a surf in on the turf. Chris Ciriello drives it in. A

reverse shot and it bounces clear for England. Andrew Philpott. That

is better from the England goalkeeper. Andrew Philpott has a

bit of space in front. Mark Knowles. He finds a Simon Orchard. Penalty

corner. Yes, it is tempting to get too close, isn't it? It is not easy

to close them down. Well coming you cannot let him go, you have too

close him down and realise he is looking for your feet all the time.

Ten minutes to play, England are forced to defend. Australia are

still deep in discussion. The question is, high or low to George

Pinner. He has had one through the legs already. He has looked

vulnerable early on. The steadier man now. They have all sorts of

variations. Here it comes. Chris Ciriello's shot. Another penalty

corner. They were looking for the option on his left-hand post as he

is looking at the ball. There you are. Well, Dan Fox gets out to that

one. I think it was Alastair Brogdon who got out. That is normally the

job Dan Fox. Kavanagh might get his chance or will they use Chris

Ciriello again? It is Chris Ciriello! Coal! 3-1 Australia.

England are checking it. -- goal. They want to use their referral. The

runner blocks him out. This is an umpire referral. Can you check the

action happening in the middle? The runner out is being blocked. OK. Can

you check for the blocking as well, please? And whilst you are at it, we

will have a full-service! Everyone wants everything checked. It is a

good finish, isn't it? It is stopped outside the circle but was there

anything going on? He just does enough to move George Pinner out the

way. There is nothing blocking the ball or the target. I do not think

they are going to change that. I do not see any problems, there is no

reason to change the decision. That is the worst news as far as England

is concerned, the goal of Chris Ciriello will stand. Australia are

leading 3-1 with eight and a half minutes to play. They picked out the

head side of the goalkeeper where there is no line man, so if he can

get the goalkeeper moved, here. I don't think there's any need

for that now. Lots of chat between the umpires and players, that has

been a feature of the match and a feature of the whole tournament.

Jackson is forced to wait before he can take this. Good work from

Jackson, until Chris Ciriello woke up to the threat and reacted. Iain

Lewers goes down the line for England and he flicks it in. England

did not get a favourable bounce. And Australia move forward again. Aran

Zalewski chases after it. Michael Hoare tidies it up for England. Play

on. Daniel Beale is back on after injury earlier, he was appearing to

rove his ankle. He has been fixed up and sent back into play the last

seven minutes of this second-half -- rub. That was a bit of a mistake,

England with numbers. Alastair Brogdon with a flick inside. There

will be a card here. Well, he knew he had done a foul and he hit the

ball away. Swann tries to get it away before the whistle was blown

but the umpire says no. Dan Fox is looking for a foot, and he does not

get it. Five minutes on the sidelines for playing the ball away

after the whistle. England will have a man over for much of the rest of

the match but they have to defend this attack from Daniel Beale. He

feeds it to Dixon on the left who continues on. Middleton has Jackson

in support in front. Dixon is backing up. Middleton, the England

captain. He whips it across the face of the goal but no England stick is

there. Well, a good bit of work there. Always stretching to get the

ball across, always slightly out of reach. Uncomfortable. That is what

Australia do, they make it uncomfortable when you have got the

ball, they are in your face. They are always getting half an edge to

things, slowing the ball down and getting bodies in the way. Michael

Hoare. Playing the ball away after the whistle. Exactly the same.

Michael Hoare will have a five-minute suspension so they have

even things up. Martin Madden is calling the play on the other side

of the pitch as well now, so the players will be frustrated that he

is dominating. Michael Hoare gets a five-minute suspension as well. That

was for hitting the ball away after the whistle went. Ten aside for the

next four minutes or so. Martin tries to get the ball forward. I

thought that was the other way, actually. I must admit. That was

Kieran Govers hitting the ball away. He thought it was his free hit

and I did, too. He has been suspended. England are attacking and

they are running out of time, five minutes remaining. Two guys on the

bench, both for hitting the ball away, there are three players off

the pitch now. You must not hit the ball away after the whistle has been

blown. Kieran Govers and Swann out frustrating. England have a man

over. Iain Lewers. Martin tries to turn and attack. Shouldered out of

the ball and out of possession, there. It looks as though Mark

Knowles has taken a knock frustrating and he is coming off as

well. There is an injury change there. Just looking here, Harry

Martin, well, he tries to stop it, but those are the times when you

just are in the ascendancy, you see Ashley Jackson when the ball comes

in, he does not miss it. England have now lost their goalkeeper and

they have an extra outfield player. That is going to be interesting.

Yes, well England have decided to take the goalkeeper off. Dan Fox has

got an orange top on. They are allowed to do that which means they

have an extra outfield player. I guess that means they have two extra

outfield players because Australia have two off the pitch compared to

England's one. Desperate measures for England. In the dying minutes of

this match. The ball is bouncing, chance for a shot. England are still

looking for the elusive penalty corner. Nothing is coming their way.

The way things stand at the moment England will be heading to the

bronze medal match. Australia looked like they are guaranteed a medal.

Three and a half minutes left to play. This tactic is employed

occasionally when you are down and chasing the game, take the

goalkeeper off to give you a next outfield player but there is

obviously a huge risk that if anything comes of the other end, the

opposition is playing into an uncontested net. You have no

goalkeeper. Chris Ciriello plays it forward. Jake Whetton arrives and is

cornered by England. The urgency does not seem to be

there for England. They need to get forward quicker than this. They have

an extra player around this site if they need to transfer this ball.

They need to do it quickly. Dixon goes round, leaves it for Lewers.

Cleared by Australia. Good goalkeeping again from Andrew

Charter. England are camped out in an

attacking position. Nick Catlin heading towards the edge. An open

goal in front. Under two minutes left. Australia do

not need to go for goal, they just need to keep desertion of the ball

when they get hold of it. We are into the last minute and a

half of this semifinal. This is Australia, open goal, score.

Australia finish it off, 4-1 in front. Eddie Ockenden with the

simplest of finishes. That is all over. I think it probably was. It is

only one minutes ago now. That is the danger, if you can get behind

that defence into the D. An easy finish, three Australian forwards

against one. A vain dive there to stop can then putting that ball in

the net -- to stop Ockenden putting that ball in the net. You have got

to try. It is the semifinal of the Commonwealth Games. There is nothing

to lose. England will head to the bronze medal play-off tomorrow to

play either New Zealand or India. The user of that will face England

in the bronze medal match. Australia will face the winner of that match,

coming up later this morning. Australia will play either India or

New Zealand for the Commonwealth gold medal.

The matches all but over, the last couple of. And Australia have

demolished England by 4-1. ? In the first half, and two in the second.

Including the score at the tail end of the match by Eddie Ockenden.

England were unable to go all the way. They will have to regroup and

return on Sunday and battle it out for the Commonwealth bronze medal.

Australia have beaten England in the men's hockey semifinal. A good start

to the second half by England. They fought back. They got themselves a

goal. They could not really sustain the pressure and they used a a lot

of energy, and Australia were just too strong in the end. You can see

the difference in the opportunities created. Australia get four goals

from 17. England get one from five. That was the story of the game,

apart from the card count. Three yellow cards from Australia, tee

green cards, and that was all about the umpire sending someone off in

the last few minutes for hitting the ball away. Look at it I from the

second half. Sorry, the first half. The first goal from Tristan White. A

chance to slip across the top to Tristan White. Australia

chance to slip across the top to another goal with 11 minutes ago.

Simon Orchard finished off. The ball smashes past George Pinner's leg. A

good finish. And in the second half, Jackson came down and did a

beautiful ball inside the Jackson came down and did a

David Condon, who forced the ball along the back line, and Harry

Martin was creative with the goal at 52 minutes. This was a period when

England thought they were back in the game, only one goal down. A

lovely touch from Jackson. David Condon found Roper and Harry Martin

in front of the keeper, but Australia came back at 61 minutes,

Chris Ciriello, penalty corner, bottom corner again. They have

exploited that lower area and the umpire was asked for a referral. The

right-hand side, there is no stick stopper. A bit more difficult to get

down quickly if you are tall. And right at the death, 69 minutes,

England had a kicking back on, they were trying to force the pace of the

game, but unfortunately, a huge aerial set Eddie Ockenden free. They

had no chance, and it was an easy run to the goal for this Australian

team. Barry Middleton is alongside me now, the England captain. It was

a tough match. There were some moments you had a chance. In the

second half, we showed we could cause some trouble. It was a bit

hard at the end. We showed that we can contend with them and we can

have a real go at them, but our final push, we did not quite have

enough today. When you are up against a team at Australia and they

score so early, how much of a body blow is that, and how difficult is

it to recover from? It gives them some confidence and they can press

on, while we have to open up a bit and play. But we showed in the

second half and we could do it, we could get back into it. We were on a

roll, the crowd were behind us, and probably the third one was the

bigger body blow. You are an experienced England player. The

difficulty in picking yourself up after a defeat, at its elitist jaded

side as Australia, to get back the right attitude for the bronze medal

match, how tough will that be? It comes around so quickly. We come

back for a game in 24-hour is. But we have been through enough. That is

what hockey is. We usually play back-to-back games, we have done it

before. We will do everything professionally now and come out

flying again tomorrow. We want a medal. It is not the colour we

wanted. But we do not want to come in fourth place again.

Commiserations. Go get that medal tomorrow!

Australia have won every men's hockey Commonwealth gold medal,

which is incredible. They are on the march for another. They will be

taking on the winner of the match between New Zealand and India. You

can watch that match online, starting at 12:15pm. Now we had

across to Edinburgh for the final day of diving, and there has been

plenty of action already. We join Helen Skelton and Leon Taylor.

We thought we would get a late entry into the springboard. Obviously you

did not get the memo! I am so sorry! We have had the winning's 3m

springboard. All of the girls from the home nations are three. How

impressed Whately with LEC black? She did not have a great day

yesterday on the 1m, but she was diving very well on the preliminary

this morning. She has got a point to prove, and she is out there and she

will be in a good place for the final. Surprise gold medal for

Alicia Blagg the other night, hammers confidence will that had

given her? Becky did not go very well this morning, qualifying in 11,

but I am sure she will be up in the final receiving. And Grace Reid was

the darling of the crowd. Everybody was ecstatic for her, lots of people

cheering. She seems to be really encouraged by that. Yes, a

consistent performance yesterday and today in the preliminaries. She had

some difficulty, but she made it through, which is great. You can

hear the crowd, they are on good form. She's opting for some of the