England's Natalie Melmore: 'Additional pressure is tough'

Team England's Natalie Melmore kicked off her Commonwealth Games campaign in impressive fashion, but confessed that she finds it "tough" being the defending women's lawn bowls champion.

The 24-year-old, who won gold in the singles event in Delhi four years ago, opened up the defence of her crown with a 21-7 victory over Malta's Carmela Spiteri earlier today.

"The first one is always the one you want to get out of the way and relax into your rhythm," Melmore said. "Playing on the greens in Glasgow is amazing because it is almost a home crowd so it was nice to get out there and get the win.

Asked if she now faces any additional pressure, Melmore added: "I think so as it is very difficult to forget I am the defending champion.

"In Delhi I was completely unknown and obviously there is more expectation now playing for Team England who are notoriously very successful at the Commonwealths in Lawn Bowls. It is tough but it is my own fault so I have to get on with it really."

Elsewhere in the lawn bowls event, Team England's women's fours team saw off the Canadians 21-11.