Roberts stars in rugby stunner

Shropshire paralympian Jason Roberts helped Great Britain's rugby team to a dramatic opening victory over reigning world champions New Zealand in Beijing.

Roberts, from Oswestry, made his presence felt from the substitutes bench as Britain won the game 39-38 with an aggressive and tenacious performance.

Victory came thanks to Troye Collins picking up the final point in the last three seconds of the game

"It's unbelievable," said top-scorer Collins. "We've waited four years for this.

"We narrowly lost to them four years ago and they always seem to be our 'bogey-team', so to come out and play well against them is great.

"To beat the current Paralympic champions is awesome. I know it's only the first game but it was an important one for us and will give us a lot of self-belief for the rest of the tournament."

Some excellent defending from Roberts helped keep New Zealand off the scoreboard on several occasions during the later stages of the game.

Archer Danielle Brown began day seven of the Paralympics by winning Great Britain's 34th glorious gold medal of the Games in China.

The 20-year-old world champion from Yorkshire, who trains with the GB squad at the National Sports Centre at Lilleshall, defeated compatriot Mel Clarke in the semi-finals on the way to victory in women's open individual compound event.

Team-mate John Stubbs also claimed gold in the men's event.

Cyclist David Stone then claimed Britain's 35th gold.

Stone, who has cerebral palsy and rides a tricycle, triumphed in emphatic fashion in the mixed individual road race CP1/CP2 title to the time-trial, crossing the line in 45 minutes 05.33 seconds - three minutes 27.52secs ahead of his nearest challenger.

Team-mate Darren Kenny had won his fourth gold medal in the men's road race.

Meanwhile, Shropshire-based relatives of sprinter Ben Rushgrove, who won silver in the men's T36 100m earlier this week, have been toasting his success.

His grand-parents Ron and Nora Rushgrove live in Shrewsbury, and his father was born in the town.

But the Bath athlete has been forced to pull out of the 200m with a foot injury.