Commonwealth Games GOLD: Maddie Hinch and England hockey team make history

West Sussex star Maddie Hinch said she was happy to be a virtual spectator as England won Commonwealth hockey gold for the first time in Birmingham today.
Maddie Hinch (L) and England's Hollie Pearne-Webb celebrate their win at the end of the women's gold medal hockey match between England and Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham | Photo by Paul Ellis / AFP via Getty Images)Maddie Hinch (L) and England's Hollie Pearne-Webb celebrate their win at the end of the women's gold medal hockey match between England and Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham | Photo by Paul Ellis / AFP via Getty Images)
Maddie Hinch (L) and England's Hollie Pearne-Webb celebrate their win at the end of the women's gold medal hockey match between England and Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham | Photo by Paul Ellis / AFP via Getty Images)

England women's hockey team struck Commonwealth gold for the first time with a 2-1 victory over Australia.

Hinch - who comes from West Chiltington - was the hero of the semi-final shootout win over New Zealand but had relatively little do in the final.

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She said: ““I knew it could be a game of moments. I had a couple of things to do, and they can be harder, those games. I’m happy to stand there and do absolutely nothing as long as we win!”

It was a masterful performance gilded by first-half strikes from Holly Hunt and Tess Howard that secured 2-1 victory.

Before this golden afternoon England stood on the podium in all six Commonwealth tournaments but never on top step.

Neither side imposed themselves in a nervy first quarter where Australia flashed the ball across goal and England failed to capitalise on a string of penalty corners.

Maddie Hinch watches a video review of Australia's goal on the big screen \ Picture: Paul Ellis / AFP via Getty ImagesMaddie Hinch watches a video review of Australia's goal on the big screen \ Picture: Paul Ellis / AFP via Getty Images
Maddie Hinch watches a video review of Australia's goal on the big screen \ Picture: Paul Ellis / AFP via Getty Images
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Flora Peel threatened with early raids into enemy territory and she burst down the right to feed Hunt, who trapped the ball perfectly and cracked her shot past Aleisha Power in goal.

England doubled the lead four minutes later with Peel again playing provider for Howard to deftly deflect into the roof of the net. The women will have been wary of the two-goal lead that their male counterparts let slip in their own semi-final against Australia.

But there was no visible sign of stress in the England ranks and they sought to build on the advantage with Anna Toman’s penalty corner slap smacking the inside of the right-hand post.

Hinch, a spectator for the first 45 minutes, was first called into action seconds into the fourth quarter when she kick-saved Jane Claxton’s close-range snapshot. White-line fever began to creep in but as always Hinch had the coolest head in the postcode, saving first at the near post and then smothering a well-worked Australian penalty corner.

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Just like eight years ago Australia struck in the last minute as Rosie Malone swept home the loose ball from a corner, just the second goal England conceded in the entire tournament, but is far too little, too late.

Hinch said: “This is right up there in my career, because of this stage and being at home. Off the back of so many low moments along the way, I’ve come here and lived the fairytale.

“I had so many goosebumps about the idea of doing this but you know the challenges that lie ahead. Defensively, we were outstanding all tournament and I think that set the tone.”

Hinch has had her fair share of struggles in recent years that made victory on home soil all the sweeter. She said: “Sport is a rollercoaster ride. This is an unbelievable high, there’ll be many more highs and lows. You can’t take these occasions lightly, I’m so glad we stayed in the moment, didn’t get carried away and were able to bring these dreams to life.

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“I don’t think the reality of what we’ve done will set in until we go home, watch it back and see our friends and families. I’m delighted.”

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