Olympics: NZ snatch gold in women's 470

London: The New Zealand crew of Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie sailed to victory in the women's 470 class to clinch gold here at the Olympics Friday, as their British rivals struggled.

Aleh and Powrie had entered the medal race level on points with Britain's Hannah Mills and Saskia Clarke, but took the win as the British pair finished ninth, winning silver.

The bronze went to Lisa Westerhof and Lobke Berkhout of the Netherlands, whose sixth place in the medal race was just enough to cling on to third place in the overall standings in the face of a strong challenge from France's Camille Lecointre and Mathilde Geron.

The women's 470 class finale had originally been scheduled to take place Thursday, but was postponed due to lack of wind.

Earlier Friday, Australia's Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page gave their country gold in the men's 470 class after holding off a challenge from a British crew in the medal race.