Commonwealth Games: Joshua Stacey, Rosie Eccles and Ioan Croft win golds for Wales

Rosie Eccles won silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games

Para table tennis player Joshua Stacey and boxers Rosie Eccles and Ioan Croft added three Commonwealth Games golds for Wales.

Stacey defeated Lin Ma in the final of the men's classes 8-10 singles to become Wales' first table tennis Commonwealth Games champion.

Eccles and Croft both won finals, while Taylor Bevan picked up a silver in a record-breaking boxing medal haul.

Wales now have 27 medals, with eight gold, six silver and 13 bronze.

There is a chance of another medal on the final day of competition with table tennis duo Anna Hursey and Charlotte Carey competing for a bronze medal in the women's doubles.

Aidan Heslop and Ruby Thorne also compete in the mixed synchronised 10m platform diving final.

Boxing brilliance

Wales celebrated a record-breaking Commonwealth Games boxing tally of two gold, one silver and three bronze.

It beat the one gold, two silvers and three bronze medals achieved at the 1958 Empire Games, the forerunner to the Commonwealths, in Cardiff.

It was a brilliant display of boxing from light-middleweight Eccles as she kept the attacks coming against Kaye Scott, forcing two standing counts.

The referee called it a day in the second round with a third and final standing count.

"I thought if there's ever the opportunity, take it," said Eccles.

"To get it by stoppage in the final, I have no words."

The 26-year-old, who took silver in the welterweight category four years ago, is only the second Welsh female to win Commonwealth boxing gold after Lauren Price, who went on to become Olympic champion.

"It was always two dreams; Olympic gold medallist and Commonwealth champion," said Eccles.

"One is ticked off. There are a few more steps to go and hopefully we will be there.

"To be on the number two podium last time round, it hurt. To now be on top - I am going to have my national anthem played, I can't believe it."

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Eccles has overcome some setbacks including nerve damage in her arm in 2020 that left her fearing for her career and in chronic pain.

She suffered the injury just weeks before the original Olympic qualifying event in London in March 2020.

She lost her opening bout and her only shot at reaching the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

"It was heart-breaking," she said. "The team I have got around me, if you could write down the perfect team, I have got it. My family have been through the mill with me."

Eccles has stayed motivated and overcome the setbacks, adding: "I am stubborn and a glutton for punishment.

"There have been some close calls, my health has not been great. Training has been at times horrendous just to get through it. It's been a mission to say the least.

"But I have real faith in my team. They said even though you feel bad, you are looking good. I just kept that faith."

Welterweight Ioan Croft, who had seen his identical twin brother Garan win boxing bronze, defeated Stephen Zimba from Zambia to claim gold in a unanimous decision.

"It is a dream come true," said Ioan Croft.

"I have wanted to do this since I saw the guys do it in Glasgow (in 2014).

"The last four years I have been very hard working towards this moment and I knew this going out tonight.

"It all came down to those nine minutes and it was punch perfect, it could not have gone any better.

"This week is only a small part of the journey."

Light-heavyweight Bevan lost to Scotland's Sean Lazzerini in a tight final which was decided on a split decision.

"I still feel gutted because I have come off a loss. I feel when the dust has settled, I will be proud of what I have done," said Bevan.

"I think the (semi-final) did affect me a little bit. I don't want to make excuses but I did not really sleep last night, I was aching quite a lot after a tough fight yesterday.

"But he was the better man in there today and he deserved the win."

Celebrating with his Nan

Stacey won 25-23, 5-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5 to claim an overall 3-2 victory against his Australian opponent in the table tennis.

"It's something I have worked for for the last four years," said Stacey.

"To have finally done it, it's an unreal feeling. It's been my goal for the last four years after getting bronze on the Gold Coast."

So how will Stacey be celebrating?

"I will probably call my Nan, I'd like to speak to her," he said.

"My Gramps passed away in April so this is for him.

"My Nan came to watch from the groups to the semis. It's probably the first time she has ever watched me properly - what a stage to do it on."

Stacey also thanked Simon Oyler, a development manager with Table Tennis Wales, who came to his school in Cardiff and discovered his talent.

"I would like to thank Simon very much after all he has done for me," added Stacey.

"If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here now and I am forever grateful."

Return road

Geraint Thomas finished eighth in the men's road race after his bronze medal in the time trial and says it will be his last Commonwealth Games.

Eluned King, who had earlier won bronze on the track, was Wales' top finisher in eighth place in the women's road race.

Olympic champion Elinor Barker completed the race in 41st place, just five months after giving birth to her son Nico.

"Just racing felt like a win for me," said Barker.

"I put myself forward (for selection) and did not really expect anything, so for Team Wales to have the belief that it was worthwhile me coming meant a lot.

"I knew it was going to be touch and go, but I thought if I had the tiniest opportunity to represent Wales I needed to go for it.

"I am glad I did and I have enjoyed myself.

"It was good and hard but I just don't have the intensity at the moment. Every lap was a little bit harder and it kind of snapped towards the end.

"I am a little bit disappointed, but I am glad I could do a little help for the girls."

Diver Aidan Heslop finished eighth in the men's 10m platform final.

Wales' men finished in sixth place in the hockey after a 2-1 loss to 2018 silver medallists New Zealand.

Despite the defeat, Wales secured a best competition finish having won a group game for the first time in their history at the Games in Birmingham.

"That was our target before we came here, to be the most successful team, which we've achieved," said Wales captain Rupert Shipperley.

"The group's aspiration is much higher and we're on the right trajectory. There's still a little way to go but we're definitely moving in the right direction."

On the last night of athletics, Melissa Courtney-Bryant finished 10th in the women's 1,500m, won by Scotland's Laura Muir, while Jennifer Nesbitt and Beth Kidger placed 12th and 13th in the women's 5,000m final.

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