GOLD AND BRONZE IN BIRMINGHAM

Central Coast athletes have excelled at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Bradley Woodward claimed bronze in the 100-metres backstroke in a thrilling finish.

Incredibly, he didn’t qualify for the event but seized the opportunity when Isaac Cooper was sent home.

Meanwhile, Berkeley Vale’s Faith Nathan starred in Australia’s Rugby 7s gold medal match against Fiji this morning.

The 22-year-old scoring two tries and setting up another in the historic win.

In hockey, the Kookaburras, featuring the Coast’s Matt Dawson, commenced its title defence with a 12-nil win over Scotland.

The team is chasing a seventh consecutive gold.

(Vision only)