Commonwealth Games: Near-misses trail pretty good showing in Glasgow

New Zealand men's sprint specialists Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins with their gold and bronze medals after racing at Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Photo / Greg Bowker

New Zealand's strong showing on the Glasgow Commonwealth Games medal table - only powerhouses England, Australia and Canada, hosts Scotland and populous India (and only by a solitary gold) headed the New Zealand team - was backed by a raft of top 10 finishes.

As has long been the case, the New Zealand team again returns home with a stack of near-misses with 19 fourth places and a further 11 top five finishes.

And, in again showing there is real depth in some sports, there were another 45 to claim places in the top 10 of their respective events.

Cycling was the flagship with 15 of its members on the dais at the 261 medal ceremonies at which a total of 1385 medals were handed out.

Sam Webster, two golds and a silver, was the country's most successful competitor in Glasgow with Sophie Pascoe, two golds in the pool, and Lauren Boyle, also two medals in the pool, Eddie Dawkins and Shane Archbold (cycling gold and bronze) the other multi medal-winners.

With pairs no longer on the shooting programme, the medals at stake in that sport have been drastically reduced but even allowing for that, the shooting team fell short of what was expected.

Boxing and judo exceeded most expectations but there were other disappointments in team sports with hockey, netball and rugby sevens and lawn bowls failing to nail the medals they had arrived in Glasgow expecting to win.

Bowls New Zealand, preparing to host the next World Championships, in November-December 2016, must turn their sport around quickly otherwise the perceived home advantage will count for little on the greens in Christchurch.

Swimming, too, needs a boost if it is to justify the financial backing and support it has received while netball, hockey and sevens will look back on "what might have been" in making honest assessments of what is needed if they are to be ready for the 2016 Brazil Olympic Games.