Swimming-England stun Australia in relay

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

MELBOURNE, Mar 18 (Reuters) England captured two more swimming gold medals at the Commonwealth Games today, the second coming with a stunning men's relay upset of Australia.

The English quartet of Simon Burnett, Alexander Scotcher, Dean Milwain and Ross Davenport stormed to victory in the men's 4x200 metres.

Earlier, Christopher Cook led James Gibson to an English one-two in the men's 100m breaststroke as England finished day three of the swimming competition with four gold medals.

Lining up without Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett in the relay, Australia's humiliation was compounded when they were pipped for the silver medal by Scotland.

For a jubilant England, the absence of Thorpe and Hackett took none of the shine off their victory.

''We stuffed the Australians in their own backyard,'' Davenport, who swam an astonishing anchor leg to bring England home despite diving in third, told reporters.

''They've stuffed many people across the years, so for four English guys to come out there and convincingly beat them...is a great achievement.'' England's time of seven minutes 14.14 seconds was a shade under 10 seconds slower than Australia's world record of 7:04.66 but there were still tears during the medals ceremony.

''We've all worked so hard so there's nothing wrong with getting a little emotional when you pull something like that off,'' said Scotcher.

''Especially here in Melbourne, in front of a partisan Australian crowd -- I don't think they liked it very much.'' Cook's breaststoke victory was the third time in 24 hours that England finished first and second in a men's final.

Davenport and Burnett went one-two in the 200m freestyle and Matthew Clay and Liam Tancock did the same in the 50m backstroke.

Australia top the swimming medals table with nine gold and 26 in total with England second on four gold and 11 altogether.

''I've been in the team for three years now and this is the best atmosphere I've ever seen,'' said Davenport.

''Everyone's pulling in the right direction and fighting for each other. You saw tonight four English guys absolutely working their socks off for each other.'' REUTERS DH BS1833

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