JERSEY’S Beckie Herbert has won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games.

She achieved it after England defeated New Zealand in the ladies hockey play-off this morning.

Although lining up for the national side, the Jersey-born teenager said she was very proud of her roots and delighted to have won something for the Island.

New Zealand had beaten England 4-0 in the group stages earlier in the competition but today won 3-1 on a penalty shoot out.

Played under hot sunshine and before a packed house at Melbourne’s hockey centre, the two sides fought out a tense goal-less thriller, which ended in penalties.

Beckie wasn’t involved in the shoot-out, but had played an important role throughout the match by using her pace down the right.

After receiving her medal, the 19-year-old said: ‘I feel brilliant.

We knew that we had to go out there and play well to beat them and that’s just what we did.

It was a pretty well-fought match and I think we had the measure of it in the first half.’ After learning that she was the first Islander to win a medal in Melbourne, she said: ‘Yes, it’s great to be a Jersey girl winning a medal at the Games.

This is a team bronze for England, but I am very proud of my roots and there’s that bit of my heart that will always remain Jersey.’ Her mum Shelagh, who has been at every England game with her husband Tim, said: ‘I’m absolutely thrilled that the England team has got the bronze medal.

I think they were the better side and the keeper made two excellent saves in the penalty shoot out.

‘I think Jersey can be very proud of her today.’ Shelagh, who is the Island’s hockey development officer added: ‘As a mum, I’ve certainly found the whole experience fantastic and I have to say that having some knowledge of the game has helped.

I know that her sister Jamey watched the game back home and lots of relatives in the UK who have already been texting messages.’ Her dad Tim added: ‘I’m really proud of what Becks has achieved it such a relatively short space of time and at such young age.

I’m sure that she will be able to use this as a platform to greater things in the future.’ As Beckie has been selected for the England team, her medal cannot count towards Jersey’s total, but as Derek de la Haye, the assistant director of Education, Sport and Culture, said after England’s victory: ‘It’s good enough for me to count!’