Adam Peaty closes in on title defence on second day of Commonwealth Games

The Staffordshire swimmer was among the star athletes from the Black Country and Staffordshire who performed on the second day of the games Down Under, including Walsall's Alice Kinsella who won silver in the women's team gymnastics.

England have enjoyed a promising start to the games on Australia's Gold Coast and currently sit second place in the medals table behind the hosts.

Today's action also saw netballer Beth Cobden, from Cannock, help cement England's place at the top of their group with a 74-49 win against Malawi.

But England's women's basketball team, featuring Stourbridge's Dominique Allen, suffered a 80-54 loss to Canada in their first group game.

Olympic and Commonwealth gold medallist Peaty was among England's best performers as he set about defending his 100m breaststroke title.

The 23-year-old from Uttoxeter began the day by winning his heat in the first round of the men's 100m breaststroke, with his time of 59.14 seconds sending him into the semi-finals.

He followed up by producing an outstanding time of 58.59 seconds which set a new Commonwealth Games record and booked his place in the final which takes place tomorrow at 10.48am.

After the races, he said: "This morning was a bit rough for me, but you don't always get it your way.

"I want to defend my titles for four years and that's what I've come here to do.

"I haven't come here to go really, really fast because that's just not in our plan.

"I want to peak in worlds, I want to peak in Olympics. This is the kind of year where I turn up, defend those titles and go home. And enjoy the process."

Peaty currently holds the Olympic and world record in the 100m breaststroke, which he set in the 2016 Olympics final with a time of 57.13 seconds.

Meanwhile Kinsella, 17, who is the sister of Walsall FC defender Liam Kinsella, won silver in the women's team final for artistic gymnastics.

England came second place with 162.650 points - closely behind Canada on 163.075 - after impressing judges following their performances over four circuits which were the vault, uneven bars, beam and floor.

The win saw Kinsella qualify for the individual rounds. Now she is gearing up to take part in the women's individual all-round final, in artistic gymnastics, tomorrow at 7.41am.

In netball, England beat Malawi 74-49 making it two wins in two out of their group games, with Cannock's Beth Cobden featuring for the side. It followed their 74-28 win over Scotland yesterday.

England Netball tweeted after the game to say the team had a 'blistering second half' which saw them continue their fine form.

They face Uganda next in their group game taking place on Sunday at 6.02am.

However England's basketball team, featuring Dominique Allen from Stourbridge, lost 80-54 against Canada.

Allen made one assist and scored four points. England face Mozambique in their next group game on Sunday at 5am.

The other action on Sunday will see Peaty compete in the men's 50m breaststroke heats. Peaty features in heat 5 which takes place at 1.54am. The semi-finals are taking place on Sunday ahead of Monday's final.

Peaty's record breaking success follows that of Helen Scott MBE in cycling yesterday.

Scott, who is a member of Halesowen Athletics & Cycling Club, won the women’s visually impaired sprint in cycling alongside teammate Sophie Thornhill.

Together, with Scott being the pilot, they set a new world record and Commonwealth Games record.

England rounded off today in second place with 18 medals in total including nine gold.

Australia, the host nation, currently lead the standings with 36 medals in total and 14 gold.

The Games are taking place in Gold Coast, Queensland, which is on the east coast of Australia.

The competition is running until April 15.

More than 4,100 athletes are taking part where 275 gold medals are up for grabs.

A total of 71 countries from the Commonwealth are competing.