Commonwealth Games: Wales celebrate most successful showing

Wales are celebrating their most successful Commonwealth Games on Australia's Gold Coast.

Wales equalled their record medal haul and golds won at previous Games with seven podium positions on Saturday.

Shooter Michael Wixey won the men's trap final, while Lauren Price and Sammy Lee claimed gold in the boxing ring.

This took the tally to 36 medals, including 10 gold, 12 silver and 14 bronze.

The total medals match the highest Games haul in Glasgow in 2014, when Wales only won five golds.

The 2018 haul of 10 golds emulates the previous best in Auckland in 1990 but in those Games in New Zealand, Wales only returned with 25 medals.

So Wales can claim the Gold Coast Games have been their most successful.

On Saturday, Jon Mould also celebrated silver in the men's road race, while there was also a boxing second spot for Rosie Eccles.

There were bronze medals for cyclist Dani Rowe and para table tennis player Joshua Stacey.

• Day-to-day guide to Gold Coast 2018

• What's on when: Full Games schedule

• BBC Sport's coverage times and channels

Boxing brilliance

Price, who won the world kick-boxing title four times as a teenager and later represented Wales at football, was delighted with her victory after winning bronze in Glasgow four years ago.

She beat Australian Caitlin Parker on a split decision to win gold in the women's 75kg division.

"I knew it was going to be tough, boxing an Australian in her backyard, but I pulled it off," said Price.

"I am the first Welsh women's boxer to win Commonwealth Games gold and I am happy with that."

Lee, 19, celebrated a unanimous win over Samoan Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali in the men's 81kg final, only his third senior fight.

England's Sandy Ryan beat Eccles in a split decision in the women's 69kg boxing final.

Wales leave the Gold Coast with four boxing medals, one less than in 2014 though all five were bronze four years ago.

Family affair

Shooter Wixey, whose wife Sarah won bronze in the women's event on Friday, won gold in the men's trap final with a Games record score of 46.

"It feels fantastic and it is still sinking in," said Wixey, 46.

"I have been shooting very well and I knew I was in with a chance.

"I was in first place in qualification going into the final and I was determined to go for a medal and come away with the gold. It worked out for me."

Michael Wixey was competing at his fifth Commonwealth Games

It was a second family medal in 24 hours and a fifth shooting podium position for Wales.

"We had a brief celebration after Sarah's medal last night and we will do that properly now," said Wixey.

"The Welsh team has won five medals and done very well indeed and I think it's the best Games ever for Welsh shooting."

Gareth Morris and Chris Watson, who won shooting silver in the Queens Prize Pairs, could not add to their medal tally in the individual event.

Morris finished 10th, while Watson was 16th. Mike Bamsey failed to qualify for the men's 50m rifle 3 positions final, placing ninth.

Saturday success

Mould was leading with 50m of the 168km road race remaining but Australia's Steele von Hoff outsprinted him to claim gold, while Luke Rowe was 14th.

The Welsh cyclist had been looking to emulate the achievements of Geraint Thomas, who won this race for Wales in Glasgow in 2014.

Mould admitted he had been targeting a medal on the track rather than the road.

"I am chuffed," said Mould.

"I had a chat with Luke (Rowe) and he said he would commit to helping me for a sprint.

"Coming down the finish line, I went flat out, as fast as I could.

"It was all about the track for me but sometimes when you want something it does not work out.

"There was no pressure coming into this and it worked out. To finish with a silver is mega."

Rowe on track

It was a second road race medal for Wales after Luke Rowe's sister-in-law had earlier won bronze in the women's event.

Dani Rowe, 27, who won Olympic gold on the track at London 2012, switched her allegiance from England for these Games after getting married in September 2017 to Welsh cyclist Matthew Rowe, Luke's brother.

Wales' team of Elinor Barker, Hayley Jones, Jessica Roberts, Manon Lloyd and Megan Barker laid the foundations for Rowe.

"I feel like I've been waiting a long time for a bit of success," said Rowe.

"I've been working hard on the road for a few years now. It's absolutely amazing to have a Commonwealth bronze.

"Every single girl was absolutely amazing out there. It's not just my medal - it's for all of the girls.

"I feel like an honorary Welsh girl, I've been living there for over five years now. It's been incredible. It means so much to fly the flag for Wales, so I hope they'll all welcome me back when I get back to Cardiff!"

Para table tennis player Joshua Stacey, 18, from Cardiff, defeated South African Theo Cogill in the men's TT6-10 singles bronze medal match.

Rugby Sevens, athletics & diving

Wales men opened their Rugby Sevens campaign with a 31-5 win over Uganda before beating Sri Lanka 42-12.

This set up a winner-takes-all against Fiji which Wales lost 21-17 meaning they have no chance of a medal. Wales will contest the five to eight positions on Sunday.

After two defeats on the opening day of competition, Wales women lost 45-0 to England.

Aidan Heslop, the 15-year old diver, finished sixth in the men's 10m platform event after qualifying for a second Games final.

On the track, Melissa Courtney could not follow up her bronze in the 1,500m final, finishing ninth in the 5,000m.