Commonwealth Games 2018: Seven events not to miss

Pole vaulter Eliza McCartney. Photo / Photosport.nz

David Leggat picks sevens events at the Commonwealth Games not to miss
(All NZ times).

• April 5, men's cycling team sprint, bronze rideoff 10.58pm, gold 11.02pm: The Aussies will be favourites and New Zealand's trio of Sam Webster, Ethan Mitchell and Eddie Dawkins, former world champions, have some catching up to do after a poor world champs. Silver a decent chance if they hit their straps.

• April 9, men's shot put final, from 10.25pm: Tom Walsh is an overwhelming favourite. He was beaten into second by O'Dayne Richards' massive final heave in Glasgow and took it hard. Since then he's become the Olympic bronze medallist and world outdoor and indoor champion. In the form of his life and should be unstoppable.

• April 12, men's mountainbike, from 3.30pm: The bump and twists of the mountainbike races should offer a medal chance, in the form of Anton Cooper and Sam Gaze in the cross country event. The pair won gold and silver respectively in Glasgow. Gaze won the opening round of the World Cup circuit in South Africa. Big chances you have to think.

• April 13, women's pole vault final, from 9.30pm: Eliza McCartney will start the highest-ranked athlete in the event. Her fourth place finish at the world indoor champs in Birmingham was two places better than Canadian Alysha Newman and four spots ahead of Australia's Nina Kennedy.

• April 14, women's hockey medal matches, bronze from 12.30pm, gold from 2.45pm: England, New Zealand and Australia are world ranked 2, 4 and 5 respectively. The Black Sticks have won bronze at the last two Games. England will be tough, the Aussies will want to shine on home turf, but New Zealand should be right in the mix to make the gold medal match, at the least.

• April 15, netball medal matches, from 1pm (bronze) and 3pm (gold): Finals day and will the Silver Ferns be duelling for gold? It's shaping as the usual four-sided contest with Australia, England and Jamaica. New Zealand were beaten out of sight in the Glasgow final. There were tears. The odds favour the hosts and possiblyJamaica, who have just beaten the Ferns back-to-back in the Taini Jamison Trophy. But New Zealand should be in with a decent shout.

• April 15, sevens finals, women's bronze from 3.55pm, gold from 4.40pm; men's bronze 4.15pm, gold 5pm: Two sevens finals appearances loom for New Zealand. The men won silver in Glasgow, the women are making their Games debut on the Gold Coast. They are looking sharp and a big chance. The men will have their work cut out. Seven of the top nine on the world circuit will be in the Gold Coast; the women are second at present, sandwiched between Australia and Canada so both should be cracking competitions.

• April 12, men's mountainbike, from 3.30pm: The bump and twists of the mountainbike races should offer a medal chance, in the form of Anton Cooper and Sam Gaze in the cross country event. The pair won gold and silver respectively in Glasgow. Gaze won the opening round of the World Cup circuit in South Africa. Big chances you have to think.