IT WAS third time lucky for Rob Weale on the penultimate day of action at the Commonwealth Games as the Welsh star finally claimed individual lawn bowls gold.

Weale claimed singles bronze in Manchester in 2002 before upgrading it to silver four years later at the Melbourne Games.

But the 47-year-old - who claimed gold in the fours in Auckland in 1986 – finally found his own way to the top of the podium in the Indian capital yesterday.

He became just the second Welshman to claim gold from the 2010 Games, joining Swansea 400m hurdler Dai Greene.

And after being pushed to a tie-break in the gold-medal match by Leif Selby from Australia Weale could barely contain his delight.

“Getting the gold is an absolutely fantastic moment for me,” he said. “I’ve had a couple of goes at it now in the singles. I have had bronze, silver and now gold.

“That’s the icing on the cake, I’m absolutely chuffed.

“I’ve been world indoor champion, I’ve had a Commonwealth gold medal before in the fours.

“But with so many near misses - I’ve had three silvers in the Common-wealths as well - to finally put one across on the Aussies was great.

“It’s the pinnacle of our game in outdoor bowls. There’s no higher than that. It’s absolutely brilliant.”

Allen’s singles woe ABERCARN shooter Malcolm Allen admitted it was a birthday to forget after failing to reach the single skeet final.

Allen, celebrating his 49th birthday, already had a fight on his hands to reach the medal showdown after ending the opening day 11 places outside a qualification place.

The Welsh No1 needed to record two maximum 25 scores on his return to the range to stand any chance of progression but could only amass 44 points with a round of 23 and a 21.

“The two qualifying days were not too good,” he said.

“I had plenty of adrenaline in the pairs, but I just seemed to lose it in the singles but that’s the way it goes.”

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