Australia had last won the netball title at Manchester 2002 when they had been beaten New Zealand.

In fact, the two teams competing in Glasgow in today's final are the same two who had battled for gold in each of the last four Commonwealth Games since it made its debut at Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

Australia won the first two encounters, while being forced to settle for silver in the last two, however, the women in green and gold got back to winning ways today as they produced a stunning second-half performance to win 58-40.

The match began, as many had expected with the score line ebbing and flowing between the two sides.

An early miss by the Kiwis handed the initiative to Australia but the score was soon level as the teams battled for supremacy in mid-court.

Coming into the first break there was nothing between the sides with the scores tied at 14 apiece, however, the Aussies push on in the second and, led by captain Laura Geitz, took a 28-24 lead into half-time.

Australia's goal-scorer Caitlin Bassett was on top form today as she scored 49 points to lead her team to gold ©Getty Images



After a bemusing half-time show, which is probably best left untouched, the match continued in a similar vein to that of the second quarter, with the Australians beginning to show their dominance.

Holding a relatively comfortable 43-32 lead coming into the final quarter, the Australian women pushed on again, repeating the same 15-8 score line seen in the third period to finally secure a 58-40 victory and the all-elusive gold medal.

Australia's Caitlin Bassett recorded an impressive 92 per cent success rate in terms of netting baskets, scoring 49 of the 52 she attempted.

In comparison, New Zealand's Maria Tutais scored just 22 of the 31 opportunities presented to here, recording a 72 per cent success rate.

Jamaica claimed bronze in the netball today as they beat England 52-48 ©Getty Images



In the bronze medal match, Jamaica's "Sunshine Girls" battled to a 52-48 victory over England in an incredibly topsy-turvy encounter.

Despite leading 13-11 after the first break, England fell behind in the second as Jamaica began to find their rhythm.

The scores were level at 37-37 going into the final quarter following a tense third, however, it was the Jamaicans who proved the stronger come the final few minutes as they powered to the finish to secure the win and the bronze medal.

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