South Africa win men's 4x100m freestyle relay

MELBOURNE, March 16 (Reuters) South Africa collected their first gold medal at the Commonwealth Games today by winning the men's 4x100 metres freestyle relay.

The quartet of Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns, Johannes Zandberg and Ryk Neethling led all the way to win in a time of three minutes, 14.97 seconds, breaking the Commonwealth Games record but well outside the world record South Africa set at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Australia, weakened by the absence of Ian Thorpe, finished a close second in 3:15.54 after their anchorman Ashley Callus briefly threatened to reel in Neethling.

Canada pipped England for third place in 3:15.74 to add a bronze medal to their silver won by Andrew Hurd in the individual 400m freestyle final.

REUTERS PDS BST1650