England beat Australia to win first Commonwealth Games hockey gold
It was an historic win in Birmingham on 'Super Sunday.'
England won Commonwealth Games hockey gold for the first time, beating Australia 2-1 in Birmingham.
Goals from Holly Hunt and Tess Howard in the second quarter secured victory for the team, despite a late effort from the Aussies finding the back of the net.
Cheered on by a sold-out crowd in the sunshine at the University of Birmingham, the underdogs outplayed their opponents and were roared on in the closing minutes of the match.
Australia had been expected to win the tie, having claimed four of the six Commonwealth Games editions, while England were three-time silver medallists.
"Getting a gold is surreal"
Following the victory, Holly Hunt, 25, said: "This is my old university pitch so to be back out here playing in a Commonwealth final and getting a gold medal is surreal. I can’t believe what’s just happened, it’s amazing."
On her goal, she added: “I didn’t know what to do. All I was thinking is ‘stop this ball and hit it as hard as I can’. Thankfully it went in and I just jumped on the spot.”
"The support has been incredible"
On comparisons to winning Olympic gold in Rio, captain Hollie Pearne-Webb said: "In some ways, so similar, in some ways, so different. The bit that’s different is being at home in front of a home crowd, that’s been unbelievable.
"I’m so fortunate that’s been within my career and my lifetime. The support has been incredible.
“We saw what the Lionesses did last week, they were hugely inspirational for us and we watched them. To be on that women’s team sport movement is a privilege and I’m so happy we can be part of it."