ENGLAND proved their Commonwealth Games superiority on Tuesday night in a high-speed final at the Bolton Arena writes Angela Kelly

A capacity crowd witnessed the challenge from Singapore, but there was never any serious doubt that England would claim the gold medal.

World No.3 pair Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms scored an emphatic victory over Patrick Lau and Jiang Yanmei in just 18 minutes.

They took the first game 7-0, hardly needing Nathan's steep smashing or Gail's quicksilver net play. The next two followed 7-4, 7-4 and England were on their way.

Colin Haughton's previous performances in the Games had not pleased him. He had failed to find the form which has made him the nation's top singles player.

Singapore's Ronald Susilo tested him in every way -- pushing him into corners, smashing at his body, stroking over the deftest of net tumbles.

But Colin was equal to the task. He stumbled initially to miss out 5-7, but took the second and third 7-4, 7-9.

His world-class opponent hit back with a 7-0 victory of his own in the fourth. But when Colin shifted up a gear to take the final game 7-3, he yelled his victory salute to the delighted crowd.

With the scoreat 2-0, England needed only one more event to clinch the match, and Tracey Hallam was the woman for the job. The left-hander faced Li Ll and after losing 6-8 in the first, a combination of penetrating clears, fast, deceptive drops and delightful net play gave her the next 7-4.

Li came back to take the third 7-1, but in the fourth game, Tracey showed her mettle with a gritty display of relentless power and pace taking the final two games 7-1, 7-1 to give England a deserved win,.

The celebrations started all round ..