Wilkinson Hails Wales Win As Best Ever

Leah Wilkinson has hailed the 3-2 win over India as the best ever by Wales’ hockey women.

Skipper Wilkinson’s side shrugged off the 16 place difference in the rankings to stun the world ranked No 10 team in the Commonwealth Games Pool A opener.

Natasha Marke-Jones fired home the winner with three minutes left for world No 26 Wales after India had recovered from a two-goal deficit.

Wilkinson, leading Wales for the first time and setting a new cap record of 142, said: “This is the biggest win we’ve ever had.

“We knew they were going to hit and play hard.We played the Welsh way and did not give up. We fought and went all the way.

“We never gave up. We fought to the end. Passion and pride will get you there in the end.”

Lisa Daley and Sian French had given Wales a 2-0 lead at half-time.

Asked what the coaching team had told them at half-time, Wilkinson added: “Play our style of game, don’t give up and that there were no expectations on us.

“India is the higher ranked team.

“We played Australia in a warm-up match on this field at the same time of the day, in the same heat, and that prepared us well. We’ve come from the snow.”

Wales face world no 2 England in their second game at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre on Friday followed by games against South Africa and Malaysia.