Springbok Sevens team fights back for bronze

The Springbok Sevens team fought back from 5-14 down to beat England 17-14 to claim the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi yesterday - South Africa's only medal of the day.

Bernard Botha of the Springbok Sevens scored for South Africa within the first minute, but England hit back with converted tries from Matthew Turner and Dan Caprice to go into the break 14-5 up.

The South Africans were far improved in the second half.

Cecil Afrika scored and converted his own try after a period of sustained pressure to cut the English lead to just two points.

Lubabalo Mtembu then scored the match-winning try with just one minute remaining on the clock when he stormed over in the corner.

"They responded splendidly to the challenge and I am delighted for the lads," Bok coach Paul Treu said.

"It was a tough ask of the guys after the disappointment of losing to Australia in the semifinal, but they showed real mental strength to come back from 14-5 down to shut out the game against a very good English team."

New Zealand won a fourth consecutive gold medal after they beat Australia 24-17 in the final.

The bronze in the Sevens brings South Africa's medals tally up to 33 - which includes 12 gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze. South Africa are closely followed by Nigeria on 11 gold and Kenya on 10.

On the track yesterday, England won the men's 4x100m relay gold medal, crossing the line in 38.74 seconds. Jamaica were second and India third.

England also won the 4x100m women's relay, finishing in 44.19, Ghana were second and India third.

Kenya's Silas Kiplagat powered to the men's 1500m gold medal, crossing the line in 3:41.79 seconds. Fellow Kenyan James Magut came in second and defending champion Nick Willis of New Zealand was third.

India upset the odds and thrilled the home crowd to win the women's 4x400m relay gold, crossing the line in 3:27.77. Nigeria came in second and England were third.

The South Africa men's hockey team fought back to beat Pakistan with a golden goal in an ill-tempered clash and finish fifth.

With the scores tied 2-2 at full time, Justin Reid scored the decisive goal in extra time after Pakistan were reduced to 10 men following a red card to Muhammad Imran in the 58th minute.

The South African women's side play England this morning for the bronze medal.

The Games have been hit by another positive drugs test, this time from Nigerian 110m hurdler Samuel Okon, making him the second athlete from the African nation to return a positive result.

Okon, who finished sixth in the 110m hurdles final, tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexanamine.

On Monday, it was revealed that Nigeria's women's 100m gold medal winner Osayemi Oludamola had tested positive for the same substance.