By Gary Anderson at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre

Chris Ciriello was on deadly form as he bagged three goals to help Australia claim a fifth Commonwealth Games gold ©Getty Images A magnificent display of shooting from Chris Ciriello helped Australia secure a fifth consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal in men's hockey as they overcame India 4-0 here today. 

The win completes a third straight men's and women's hockey double for Australia at the Commonwealth Games while Ciriello scored a hat-trick for a second major final in-a-row after Australia's win in the Hockey World Cup final over hosts The Netherlands back in June.

The Aussies hammered India 8-0 in the final at Delhi 2010 and while revenge may have been on the minds of the Indians, in truth they never really looked like threatening on a day that was punctuated by torrential downpours in Glasgow leaving conditions underfoot somewhat tricky.

It did not seem to overly affect the Australians however as they settled into their stride after a cagey opening 15 minutes.

Ciriello stepped for his first penalty corner and he rifles his effort hard and low to find the bottom left-hand corner despite the scrambling attempts of Indian 'keeper Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran.

Minutes later it was 2-0 as Ciriello went low and hard to the right this time to put his side well on their way.

The Aussie hot-shot completed his hat-trick with twenty minutes to go clipping a beautiful strike into the top corner followed moments later by a close range effort from Eddie Ockenden, who was totally unmarked in front of goal and turned in a ball whipped across from the right wing.

"Considering the limited preparation we had it's a very good effort from the boys," said Australian coach Graham Reid.

"We've got four or five new players since the World Cup. 

"It's great for them."

The all-conquering Australians remain the only side to win Commonwealth Games gold in men's hockey ©Getty Images The all-conquering Australians remain the only side to win Commonwealth Games gold in men's hockey ©Getty Images


Meanwhile, after the heartbreak experienced by their female counterparts in last night's gold medal match, England's men secured a second Commonwealth Games bronze by coming out on top of another thrilling penalty shoot-out.

Prior to that, the English and New Zealanders shared six goals in a superb 3-3 draw under the dark Glasgow morning sky.

New Zealand take the lead after some good work by Simon Child as he waltzed through the heart of the English defence evading some rather feeble challenges before scooping the ball high passed George Pinner in the English net.

Straight away Phil Roper went on a mazy run up the other end cutting in from the left and squared the ball only to see it cannon off New Zealand's Blair Tarrant and into the goal.

But a video referral was called for and it was chalked off after it was deemed Tarrant was impeded in his attempt to clear.

The National Hockey Centre in Glasgow was subjected to torrential bouts of rain during today's medal matches ©Getty Images The National Hockey Centre in Glasgow was subjected to torrential bouts of rain during today's medal matches ©Getty Images



Then 10 minutes before the break there was a glut of three goals as England's Alastair Brogdon capitalised on a mix-up in the New Zealand defence to scoop the ball home from close range followed by a superb effort from Ashley Jackson moments later when he arrowed a shot high into the net from a penalty corner to give England the advantage.

The English tails were up but barely two minutes later and the New Zealanders were back on level terms and it was a carbon copy of the previous goal only this time it was the man in black Andy Hayward who rocketed his shot home from a penalty corner.

It was Groundhog Day five minutes into the second half as Jackson once again showed how deadly he is from the edge of the goal area as he fired passed New Zealand's Devon Manchester from another penalty corner.

But the Kiwis drew the scores level for a third and final time as Child found a pocket of space around eight yards out and finished with aplomb.

Ashley Jackson is mobbed by England team mates after scoring the cruicial penalty to win bronze in Glasgow ©Getty Images Ashley Jackson is mobbed by England team mates after scoring the crucial penalty to win bronze in Glasgow ©Getty Images




Child went from hero to villain in the shoot-out however as both he and Blair Hilton missed their efforts leaving Jackson with the chance to won bronze for England.

Jackson, Nick Caitlin and captain Barry Middleton had all scored their penalties but when Kiwi 'keeper Nick Haig fouled Simon Mantle during his approach, Jackson stepped up to blast home the winner.

A delighted England goalkeeper George Pinner said afterwards: "This has been my first multi-stage tournament.

"I would have loved to have played a bit better and won that gold medal but I'm glad that I'll have the bronze medal around my neck tonight at the Closing Ceremony and be lying on the beach for the next few weeks with it as well."