Ben Lane, from Kingston Upon Thames, said after England’s first mixed team event win in the Badminton against South Africa, said:
“We’re happy that we’ve got out there and got a win and then been able to practice on the few things we wanted to. Whenever England play Australia there’s always a bit of tension isn’t there but it’s a match we’re really looking forward to.
On playing with Chris Adcock: “It felt really good. We are both left handed so we play a similar style and it was a great experience for me playing with Chris. He’s played in so many multi team events so it was great to finally get the chance to play alongside him.”
Chris Adcock, from Leicester, said:
“Ben is playing more mixed doubles than I am so he will teach me a thing or two I think! It’s a great opportunity for us to play together for Team England here. We had a good start, and it’s a tough one for us this afternoon against Australia – it’s a tough draw, but we’re happy to be there.
“We’ve played a bit together now so we’re getting used to it (the left/left hand combination) and hopefully we’ll have another opportunity together, but if not we have the individual to look forward to!”
Fraer Morrow from Doncaster finished in 5thplace in the 53kg weightlifting, lifting a personal best and breaking a British record. She said:
“I think I could have done even better but I am always going to think that. If I had got that last snatch then that would have been the perfect day but it’s my first Commonwealth Games and I’m still only 19 so I can settle for five lifts from six.
“I’m still a junior lifter so there’s still that to come but my aim is the Olympics as the next big event which I need to try and get the points I need. They can put me in any competition and I’ll do it.
“The crowd was amazing today, I loved it. It’s the biggest crowd I’ve ever performed in front of as well. There’s no words to describe how I am feeling getting to perform here, It’s the biggest competition I’ve ever been in and being around all the different athletes is a really different experience.”
Katherine Rednall, from Ipswich, speaking after 21:17 victory over one of the favourites Jo Edwards of New Zealand. She said:
“I thought my third bowl had got it to be honest, but the wind played its part and I was a bit concerned it may have done that on my last bowl too.
“But I’m over the moon with that win because Jo (Edwards) is one of the best, if not the best, and I have a huge amount of respect for her. She probably wasn’t at her best today but I put the pressure on early doors and that was the main aim and so really happy with how I played.”
Speaking after her afternoon win against Northern Ireland, she said:
“It was frustrating because I don’t think I played any worse than I did at the beginning, she just kept finding a killer bowl that got there but I ground out the win and did as well as I could. I will just have to say how the rest of the matches go now, I think it will be very tight at the top of the group, but I will have to wait and see tomorrow.”
Jamie Chestney (Kings Lynn), Robert Paxton (Exeter) and David Bolt (Sunderland) are in to their quarter final in the men’s lawn bowls. They said:
“I thought we played well in tricky conditions this afternoon, while it wasn’t a brilliant game to watch the wind got up a bit on the greens, but we had to play well to beat a good South Africa team.”
RP:“Ultimately the first thing is to get out of the group and in to the knockout phase which we have done and you hope for a kind draw and so heads on tomorrow and we’ll look to get the job done.”
DB:“I was happy with my game this morning but it was a bit sketchy this afternoon, I wasn’t at my best or cope with the wind very well on one of the lines, but the boys got the job done.”
Daryl Sebly, from Harlow, was victorious in his squash round of 16 match against Scotland’s Greg Lobban, winning 3-1 in a heated contest. He said:
“That was good behaviour from both of us, we are playing in the Commonwealth Games so kept a lid on it. We have had a few battles in the past, so when we saw the draw, it was probably better for him as he’s beaten me before but for me it was a good draw as it gave me a good chance to get a win over someone I have lost to before.
“It was a nice feeling to turn the result around from last time. He’s a very good player, improving a lot and going up in the rankings and I’m getting older and hanging on. For me, I am enjoying every moment, I have done two Commonwealth Games before and when I started my career I said that I wanted to be a Commonwealth medallist and I have achieved that. This is a bonus for me and another chance to get some more medals.
“For squash, this is massive, this is our Olympics. There is a lot of pressure and I felt that Greg looked a bit nervous so I decided to capitalise on that and I thought I did it well. I kept my focus a lot better than I had in the past.
“There has been a documentary on our golden generation, and I feel very proud to be part of the best British teams in the history of the sport. I will look back and feel privileged to have been a part of it. It might have been nice in a way to have been in a weaker era, so I could have been British Champion more than once, but the joy it has given me winning medals has far surpassed any of that.”
Nick Matthew OBE, from Sheffield, was victorious over Vikram Malhotra from India in his round of 16 match and said:
“I am still in it, so by that conclusion it’s going well. Things didn’t improve from my game today, I enjoyed being on there, but you need to raise your game by 10/15% and I didn’t today.
(Discussing the 2018 Games) “You have the opening ceremony, and everyone is buzzing for it, and Team England is such a close knit team and gives you the chance to be rubbing shoulders with the big names in the England team.
“Australia is a great sporting nation and we have been given a great welcome but just like any other event it will build and you get that extra momentum in your own performances as well as in the crowd.”
