by Alex Hoad

Ashford's Nick Leavey rounded off the athletics events at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi by landing bronze as part of the England 4x400m relay team.

The Ashford AC member was part of the team that finished behind Australia - who led from the second lap onwards - and was overtaken in the final 20 metres by Kenya.

Australia won in 3.03.30 with Kenya second in 3.03.84 and England third in 3.03.97.

Ashley Jackson was England's hero but England missed-out on a place in the Commonwealth Games final after penalty shootout heartache against the host nation in Delhi.

With a place in the Gold Medal play-off at stake, West Malling-based Jackson cancelled-out an early opener from the hosts with a trademark short-corner strike before the break and put England infront after the break with another.

The Chatham-born former Tunbridge Wells player and Sutton Valence School pupil struck the bar as he sought a hat-trick with England 3-1 infront but two goals in quick succession from India set up a grandstand finish with England coming under waves of pressure from the hosts infront of their partisan supporters.

After two goalless golden goal periods passed it came down to penalty flicks and despite Jackson finding the top-corner in the shoot-out, England lost 5-4.

They will face New Zealand for a bronze medal on Thursday while the hosts will take on Australia.

Rochester rugby star Dan Caprice's hopes of a Commonwealth Games medal were dashed on Tuesday morning as England lost to South Africa in the Bronze Medal play-off.

Caprice was on target as England stormed into a 14-5 half-time lead against the Springboks but a storming second half-comeback saw them slip 17-14 behind and spurn a last-minute chance to win the game when a pass was intercepted.

England had earlier lost 33-12 to Rugby Sevens powerhouse New Zealand in the semi-final having come from behind to overcome World Champions Samoa 7-5 in the quarter-final early this morning.

Petts Wood badminton ace Carl Baxter's quest for a Commonwealth medal was ended in the singles quarter finals with a 21-17, 21-9, defeat to Chetan Buradagunta of the host nation.

• Douglas takes gold in sprint relay