Aussies dethroned as England are tops for the first time since 1986

England triumphed in the Commonwealth Games medals table for the first time in 28 years on Sunday, but there were final day consolations for former top dog Australia with wins in men’s hockey and netball.

England started the day already assured of top spot in the medals table for the first time since 1986, dethroning Australia.

With just 11 more golds to be decided on a rain-hit final day, Lizzie Armitstead struck further gold for England in the women’s cycling road race going one better than four years ago in Delhi.

Fellow English rider Emma Pooley finished 25 seconds behind to finish second and add to the silver she won in the time trial.

Welsh rider Geraint Thomas then won gold in the gruelling men’s 168km road race.

Thomas, who won bronze in the time trial, survived suffering a puncture with just 6km to go to finish in a time of four hours 13 minutes and five seconds.

A sprint finish saw New Zealand’s Jack Bauer claim silver while Scott Thwaites took bronze for England.

Australia won gold in the men’s hockey with a 4-0 thumping of India for a fifth consecutive Commonwealth title, and in the netball with a 58-40 revenge win over New Zealand, who beat them at the same stage four years ago.

Scottish hopes of a 20th gold medal were dashed when Kirsty Gilmour lost 21-14, 21-7 to Canada’s Michelle Li in the badminton women’s singles final.

Games officials turned out to sing the praises of the Glasgow games with Mike Hooper, CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation calling them “the stand-out Games in the history of the movement.”

“The spirit of these Games has continued to endure,” he added.

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