The first Kent action of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games came on Thursday morning with a winning start for lawn bowler Sian Gordon and the county's hockey stars.

Gordon - whose married name is Honnor - skipped the England women’s four who began their preliminary round campaign against Canada at the Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre at 8.45am.

The 26-year-old, Canterbury-born former Simon Langton Grammar School for Girls pupil helped England get off to a good start in a tight game which actually saw Canadians win eight of the 15 ends played.

The former Whitstable BC and Oyster IBC played some fine defence to ensure seven of the eight losses cost them just a single shot, and wins of three and five on two ends ensured an eventual victory margin of 21-11.

She said: "We got off to a really good start, it was obviously daunting to start off on a televised rink but we blocked it out and we all played really well as a team.

“It was a solid performance and because the format is only 15 ends in the fours it is vital to get off to a good start and after the first three ends we had that.

“It was just a case of keeping the momentum going after that and we saw the game out.”

Gordon is back in action when England face Norfolk Island in their second Section D clash at 8.45am on Friday.

England’s women began their quest for a medal with a 2-0 win over a battling Wales side in the opening pool game at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

Egerton star Susannah Townsend of Canterbury HC was a key figure in attacking midfield, striking the post with a delicious deflection during the first half, which ended with England 1-0 ahead after a rasping Alex Danson finish.

Holcombe’s Maddie Hinch was largely untroubled in goal while Laura Unsworth and Lucy Wood also played, while Holcs-bound Nicole White grabbed the crucial second goal with six minutes remaining following a penalty corner.

Holcombe’s Shelley Russell scored twice and new Canterbury signing Dirkie Chamberlain netted four goals as South Africa crushed Trinidad & Tobago 16-0 in their opening pool game.

This evening England’s men took-on Trinidad & Tobago with Chatham-born Ashley Jackson opening the scoring with a trademark drag-flick, and then seeing a second attempt bloked, only for Holcombe's Ian Lewers to turn in to make it 2-0.

England were 3-0 ahead through Mark Gleghorne when Canterbury's Mickel Pierre pulled one back for the Islanders before half-time with a diving effort past Holcs keeper George Pinner.

This evening England’s men took-on Trinidad & Tobago with Chatham-born Ashley Jackson opening the scoring with a trademark drag-flick, and then seeing a second attempt bloked, only for Holcombe's Ian Lewers to turn in to make it 2-0.

England were 3-0 ahead through Mark Gleghorne when Canterbury's Mickel Pierre pulled one back for the Islanders before half-time with a diving effort past Holcs keeper George Pinner.

After the break Holcs' Nick Catlin added a fourth from close range after England won five straight penalty corners and after a fifth from Phil Roper, Holcombe’s Barry Middleton, who skippered the side, made it six late-on.

Clubmate Dan Fox also featured and went close to a goal, while Canterbury’s Kwan Browne and former Ashford star Akim Toussaint were in action for the Caribbean nation.

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