The auld enemies are duking it out big time with England holding six gold to Australia’s five – Scotland have four, with the next in line Canada and India winning two events each.
From the outset, the medal tally is a two horse race.
England got off to a flyer as Jodie Stimpson won the women’s triathlon and the Brownlee brothers Alastair and Jonathan claimed gold and silver. Two events, two gold.
The Aussie cyclists denied Sir Bradley Wiggans an elusive Comm Games gold relegated England to silver in the 4000m team pursuit on the Sir Chris Hoy track – they are the reigning world champions so it wasn’t a huge shock and they won it in a Commonwealth record.
Anna Meares, Australia’s flag bearer, won yet another gold medal in the women’s 500m time trial, ahead of fellow Aussie Stephanie Morton with silver.
At the gymnastics Canada claimed the rhythmic team event ahead of Wales and Malaysia, with England and Australia in fourth and fifth.
The majority of England’s gold on day one came in judo of all places with Ashley McKenzie, Colin Oates and Nekoda Davis claiming their weight divisions. The other two decided on the day went to Scotland.
Then came the pool where the Aussies were supposed to dominate. South Africa’s Roland Schoeman had other ideas taking gold ahead of England’s Adam Barrett with Aussie Chris Wright in fourth.
Mitch Larkin though got the job done for Australia in the 100m backstroke with two Englishmen in silver and bronze.
Canada’s Ryan Cochrane beat Australia’s David McKeon into silver in the 400m freestyle.
In the para-sport events, England won the B2 tandem cycling sprint while swimming gold, silver and bronze went to Australia in the men’s 100m free with Rowan Crothers breaking a world record.
In the 200m freestyle order was restored with Emma McKeon winning the 200m freestyle ahead of England’s Siobhan O’Connor and another Aussie Bronte Barratt.
Then the Aussie women blew the field away to break the world record in the 4x100m freestyle relay finishing about five seconds ahead of England and almost 10 seconds ahead of Canada.
It’s hard not to imagine the relay not representing what could happen by the time this games is over, with England starting strong and the Aussies proving too powerful by the end, but it’s going to be a hell of a tussle.
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