Shooting for gold - Commonwealth Games Day 9

Steph Wood has her sights set on gold tonight after helping Australia rebound from a shock pool match defeat by Jamaica to reach the final of the Commonwealth Games netball competition.

Wood, a former Brendale resident who played at Pine Rivers Netball Association, scored 17 from 20 shots as the Diamonds beat England 60-51 in the semi-final last night.

Australia, who were urged not to ring the changes after Thursday’s setback, raced to the lead and took the first three quarters 12-15, 11-14, 13-16 before drawing the last 15-15.

In the final, at 5.30am tomorrow AEST, the Diamonds will face a rematch with Jamaica who beat New Zealand 67-51 in their semi-final.

Sixth for Ella

Ella Connolly finished a brave sixth in a fast 200m final this morning which saw the Commonwealth Games record shattered.

The former student at St Eugene College, Burpengary, started well but was overtaken by five-time Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, of Jamaica, before the straight.

Herah took gold in a Games record 22.02 seconds, with Favour Ofili, of Nigeria, second in 22.51 and Christine Mboma, from Namibia, winning bronze in 22.80.

Connolly, who was a member of Deception Bay Little Athletics, clocked 23.21 seconds as she just missed fifth spot.

The former Burpengary is in the Australian 4x100m relay squad and may be drafted in for tonight’s final at 9.54pm AEST.

Hot in heats

Jacinta Beecher, the former Bracken Ridge Little Athletics member, helped Australia qualify for that final from the heats.

The 24-year-old, now based in Brisbane, followed Bree Masters and Riley Day with a superb third leg in the semi-final to put the Aussies in third at the handover.

Naa Anang was being caught by Trinidad and Tobago down the final 100m, but held on to third with 44.47 seconds, to Trinidad and Tobago’s 43.48.

The semi-final was won by Nigeria in 42.57 followed by England in 42.72 seconds. In the slower first semi-final, Jamaica coasted through in 43.66 seconds.

Golden glow

Renee Taylor, a former Redcliffe junior, will be part of the Hockeyroos team going for gold at midnight today AEST when Australia face England in Birmingham.

Both sides won penalty shootouts in their semi-finals yesterday – Australia beating India 3-0 after a 1-1 draw in normal time. England beat New Zealand 2-0 in a shootout after a 0-0 draw.