By Chris Roberts, PA Sport

Ruth Small claimed winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal was a dream come true - but wished her husband Jack had one too.

The Kent woman gave England their third bowls success at Heaton Park with a stunning 15-0 victory over Zimbabwe's silver medalist Constance Sibanda in the women's blind event.

But while savouring the moment she was quick to pay tribute to her husband and inspiration throughout her career, who she believes deserved a gold medal every bit as much as her.

"It was absolutely fantastic to win it for us both," said Small. "We both work extremely hard in training.

"There has been a fulfilment of a dream especially as I'm a bit long in the tooth now.

"I knew it was now or never so to win the gold here was really wonderful.

"Me and Jack have worked extremely hard for this and I couldn't have done it without him. He tells me where to bowl.

"In fact I wish there was a gold medal for him as well because he deserves it just as much as me.

"This is for both of us. He devotes the majority of his time to me and we are both over the moon with this."

After the success of the men's and women's fours teams, it was Small's turn to step onto the winner's rostrum as Heaton Park bathed in glorious sunshine.

The courageous 51-year-old national champion produced some inspirational bowls to secure the biggest triumph of her career so far.

Small was clearly thrilled as she was greeted by the triumphant men's and women's fours and lifted off her feet by former England bowler Tony Allcock amid emotional scenes on the green.

Sibanda had a silver medal to comfort her while Canada's Vivian Berkeley and Malaysian Mukri Moira took bronze.

But while Small was feeling on top of the world, compatriot Jeannie Baker saw her world fall apart.

She was well clear early on and looking in control, but Malaysia's Ahmad Siti Zalina somehow miraculously turned her fortunes around to win 21-14 and secure a bronze medal.

The host nation also had no cause for celebrations in the morning as some of their top medal hopes fell by the way side.

In the women's pairs Lynne Whitehead and Amy Gowshall saw their dreams destroyed by South Africa's Ellen Cawker and Jill Hacklan in a disappointing 23-12 semi-final defeat.

Welsh duo Joanna Weale and Anwen Butten also crashed out 20-11 to New Zealand's Sharon Sims and Joanna Edwards in another one-sided last-four showdown.

England's Mervyn King also saw his Commonwealth Games medal hopes evaporate as South African Robert John Donnelly comfortably brushed him aside for a 21-7 quarter-final success.

But there was good news for Welshman Robert Weale, who guaranteed a bronze medal by beating Scotland's Darren Burnett with a thrilling 21-18 victory after 25 ends.

Northern Ireland's Jeremy Henry also celebrated with a bronze medal after coming from 6-0 behind in the fifth end to surge to a 21-11 triumph over Zambian Eddie Nkole.

But in the women's singles compatriot Margaret Johnston crashed out 21-8 to New Zealander Marlene Castle.

Dean Morgan and Stephen Farish moved just one step away from giving England their fourth gold medal after coming a tough battle to beat Malaysia's Maswadi Aziz and Said Safuan 15-6.

They will now face Scottish pair George Sneddon and Alex Marshall in the final after beating South Africa's Shaun Addinall and Gerry Baker 15-13 in an enthralling contest.

The final will be a mouthwatering clash, but England skip Farish is confident that they can now take the gold medal.

``It's brilliant to have the silver,'' he said. ``We said before we come here that if we got bronze we would be happy with that and especially as we were in a hard group.

``But now we are in a position to take the gold in the Commonwealth Games which doesn't any better than that. If we can do it then I don't think I'll be able to sleep for a week.

``We're playing very well and if we can do it just one more time and the crowd get behind us again then we can complete the dream.''

Scotland, however, are quietly confident of upsetting the partisan home crowd tomorrow by taking the gold.

Marshall said: ``We are delighted to get the silver, but we don't want to stop there. We want the gold and we can do it.''

Northern Ireland's Henry also guaranteed himself a silver medal in the men's singles with a fantastic 21-13 victory over Mike Kernaghan, who beat Aussie Steve Glasson.

Now all that stands in his way to the gold is South African Robert John Donnelly, who clinched a 21-17 win against Weale, who at least still has a bronze medal to take back to Wales.

In the women's singles Australian Karen Murphy beat South Africa's Lorna Trigwell 21-10 to secure a silver medal and although overjoyed she dedicated it to compatriot Glasson.

She said: ``I can't believe it. It's a dream come true for me.

``I can't wait to get into the final. I'm just going to go for it now and hopefully get the gold.

``I had a chat to Steve earlier and he was gutted with what happened. I really wanted to win it for him.''