Lawn bowls is not a sport you would normally associate with tops-off celebrations.

But Victorian-born Aaron ‘Disco’ Wilson could not resist shortly after winning gold for Australia in the men’s singles event on Friday.

Wilson – who got his nickname because of his fondness for nightclubs in his youth – beat Canadian Ryan Bester 21-14 in an exciting contest at the Broadbeach Bowls Club.

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This encounter will likely be remembered for Wilson’s celebration as, after a few celebratory hugs, the 26-year-old removed his shirt and tossed it into the crowd before making a beeline for Australian official Kelvin Kerkow – the inspiration for his celebration.

Kerkow famously celebrated 2006 Commonwealth Games gold by removing his shirt and Wilson said: “He sort of sent me a clip going back when the Games [team] were selected and he said, ‘This could be you’. Obviously I had a look at it.

“[I] couldn’t help myself when it came down to the moment, chucked the shirt off … didn’t know where it went.”

Wilson – who in an interview earlier this week with Sports Hounds claimed he was eating spaghetti bolognese for breakfast every day in the athletes’ village – trailed 7-2 but finished full of momentum to claim victory.

His gold was one of two Australia won on Friday, with Laetisha Scanlan, on her 28th birthday, winning the women’s trap shooting event to defend her Games title.

“For a birthday present, you can’t get much better than this,” she told the Seven Network afterwards.

No golds at the track

Australia’s best performer at the track on Friday evening was pole vaulter Nina Kennedy.

At Carrara Stadium, Kennedy won bronze in the women’s event after clearing 4.60 metres.

The junior world record holder could go no further, though, as Canada’s Alysha Newman took gold.

Michelle Jenneke ran well to finish fourth in a women’s 100m hurdles event, with the field missing Australia star Sally Pearson due to injury.

Jenneke just missed out on a medal. Photo: Getty

Jenneke took an early lead but faded late as Nigerian Oluwatobiloba Amusan won in 12.68 seconds.

In other events, South African Caster Semenya cruised to victory in the women’s 800m final.

The two-time Olympic champion also won the 1500m at these Games, while New Zealand hero Valerie Adams – only six months since giving birth – missed out on a fourth successive gold in the women’s shot put and had to settle for silver.

In the heats for Saturday’s Australia 4 x 400m relay final, the host nation was disqualified after Steve Solomon, waiting to receive the baton during a heat, stood in the wrong lane.

Our teams

Australia’s men’s hockey team, the Kookaburras, held on to defeat England 2-1 despite being down to nine men.

Trent Mitton scored a double for the victors who – like the women – play New Zealand for the gold medal on Saturday.

Our women’s basketballers also progressed to the gold medal match, with the Opals thrashing New Zealand 109-50 to book a showdown with England.

At Robina Stadium, Australia’s women’s Rugby Sevens side made a bright start to their Games campaign with a 34-5 win over Wales and a 29-12 success against England.

The Olympic champions were never troubled against the Welsh but trailed 12-5 to England on the stroke of half-time.

Speedster Green changed the match. Photo: Getty

Flyer Ellia Green – the fastest woman in world rugby – then produced a moment of solo brilliance, though, scoring an incredible try that had the Robina Stadium crowd roaring.

That helped Australia level proceedings at 12-12 at the break and after that they never looked back.

And success could be on the cards in the boxing on Saturday, with Jason Whateley, Harry Garside, Anja Stridsman, Skye Nicolson and Caitlin Parker all set to contest gold medal finals.