Ben Proud racked up gold number nine for England in the pool at the Commonwealth Games – just enough for their efforts over six days to pip Australia’s on the final night alone.

The English contingent have racked up 24 medals at the Optus Aquatic Centre in what has been a strong showing – but it is a mark of the host nation’s dominance that they have trebled that total with a remarkable 73 medals, including 28 golds.

Fittingly the action in the pool ended with a pair of relay golds for the Australians, finishing strongly on a night when ‘Advance Australia Fair’ rang out eight times and Mitch Larkin scooped his fourth and fifth titles.

The latter was in the 4x100m medley relay, where Proud just ran out of gas and was overhauled by Kyle Chalmers in closing five metres.

Earlier he had prevented an Australian clean sweep with victory in the 50m freestyle, but there was a bittersweet tinge to the evening.

Proud said: “(It was) good to 97 metres (in the relay). I can’t help but feel disappointed looking at that last five metres.

“It was that little bit more that could’ve won the gold medal. The team did an amazing job and put me in a good position. I’m just sorry I couldn’t hold on for a little bit longer.

“I don’t think I could’ve done any more.”

While he could not quite get England over the line in the relay, Proud made up for the disappointment of his disqualification in the 50m butterfly by cruising to the freestyle equivalent, admitting the fly frustration had driven him on.

He added: “When I lost the opportunity to retain my 50m fly title, I really was clinging on to what I had left.

“To be able to retain this title gives me more energy to come back in four years’ time in Birmingham in front of a home crowd and hopefully I’m still in good shape and I can try and go for a good time.”

Alongside Proud in the medley relay were Luke Greenbank, James Guy, who picked up a fifth medal, and Adam Peaty, who bounced back from defeat in the 50m breaststroke yesterday with a blistering relay split.

Perhaps the most impressive British performance in the pool this week though, has come from Scotland’s Duncan Scott, who narrowly missed out on a magnificent seven.

The 100m freestyle champion was just edged out by Larkin in the 200m IM, with his silver taking his medal tally to six, but he could not add a relay bronze to match the great Ian Thorpe’s efforts in Manchester back in 2002.

Elsewhere on the final night there was joy for roommates Holly Hibbott and Ellie Faulkner, who took silver and bronze respectively in the 400m freestyle.

And it was also a good night for Wales as Georgia Davies took a pair of bronze medals, the latter as part of the 4x100m medley relay quartet, while Dan Jervis claimed silver in the 1500m freestyle.

npower is the Official Partner of Team England and is giving our athletes the power of support by recording a brand new version of their anthem, Jerusalem. To listen to the track visit npower.com/teamengland

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