Commonwealth Games: Gymnast Rhys McClenaghan makes superb start

Northern Ireland gymnast Rhys McClenaghan has made a superb start to his Commonwealth Games campaign.

McClenaghan, 18, was second in pommel horse qualification behind Olympic champion Max Whitlock and qualified 13th for the all-round final.

Northern Ireland's netballers opened up their campaign with 94-26 defeat by the hosts and gold medal favourites.

The Australians led 44-15 at half-time and totally dominated the second half against Elaine Rice's team.

Australia clinched their expected runaway win over Northern Ireland in the netball opener

Australia took charge from the off as they led 23-9 after the first period and Caitlin Thwaites scored from each of her 39 shots as the Aussies had a 93% shot percentage.

In contrast, Northern Ireland's was 63% as they were outclassed.

In the men's triathlon, Russell White finished in a commendable 14th place with youngster James Edgar in 22nd spot.

White, a member of Lisburn City Swimming Club and Dromore Athletics Club, was two minutes and seven seconds behind South African winner Henri Schoeman with Edgar, who has also represented Ireland in athletics, five minutes and 30 seconds off the pace.

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Northern Ireland's bowlers, who took home two medals from the Glasgow Games, have had a mixed start to their Gold Coast campaign.

Catherine Beattie did begin her singles challenge with a 21-14 win over Zambia's Getrude Siame but then lost 21-13 against South Africa's Colleen Piketh in a rematch of the bronze medal from Glasgow when the Northern Ireland woman was also beaten.

Beattie will probably need to beat Australia's gold medal favourite Karen Murphy on Saturday to reach the knockout stages.

The men's triples team of Simon Martin, Martin McHugh and Andrew Kyle needed two shots in the final end to snatch a 16-16 draw with Malaysia but were then beaten 21-11 by the Norfolk Islands and face an uphill struggle to reach the knockout stages.

The women's four of Donna McCloy, Erin Smith, Sally McCauley and Sandra Bailie were beaten 18-10 by India in their opener but men's pair Gary Kelly and Ian McClure earned a dominant 28-6 win over Jamaica.