All the photos from the Black Diamond Cup grand final and a massive weekend of Newcastle sport

Emily Dickson, Jacinta Anderson, Ava Traynor, Zali Burge, Chloe Huggins and Lucy Wallace at the 2024 Black Diamond Cup grand final at No. 1 Sportsground on Saturday, September 7. Picture by Simon McCarthy

Proud dad Dave Lynch with his daughter Sophie Lynch supporting Ellyse Lynch on field at the 2024 Black Diamond Cup grand final at No. 1 Sportsground on Saturday, September 7. Picture by Simon McCarthy

Reighan Peckham with six-month-old Octavia Sutton Morisset at the 2024 Black Diamond Cup grand final at No. 1 Sportsground on Saturday, September 7. Picture by Simon McCarthy

Tori McDonald-Stuart with Ava Walker, 3, and Belinda Jenkins from the Central Coast at the 2024 Black Diamond Cup grand final at No. 1 Sportsground on Saturday, September 7. Picture by Simon McCarthy

Melody Farrell with Naomi and Angus Farrell, aged two and six at the 2024 Black Diamond Cup grand final at No. 1 Sportsground on Saturday, September 7. Picture by Simon McCarthy

Adam Greer with his seven-month-old daughter Aurora Greer at her first sports day at the 2024 Black Diamond Cup grand final at No. 1 Sportsground on Saturday, September 7. Picture by Simon McCarthy

Killarney Vale celebrate a goal during a come-from-behind win against Cardiff in the 2024 Black Diamon Cup. Picture by Peter Lorimer

Supporters awash in team colours to support Netball grand final challengers Norths against West Leagues Balance. Picture by Peter Lorimer

Action from the Newcastle netball grand finals in Newcastle. Picture by Peter Lorimer

Action from the 2024 Black Diamond Cup in Newcastle. Picture by Peter Lorimer

Action from the 2024 Black Diamond Cup in Newcastle. Picture by Peter Lorimer

Action from the 2024 Black Diamond Cup in Newcastle. Picture by Peter Lorimer

Action from the Newcastle netball grand finals in Newcastle. Picture by Peter Lorimer

Ellyse Lynch's dad, Dave, held up his side of the giant banner emblazoned with the war cry "Back the Birds" like it was his national flag. He was beaming with pride.

As he hollered support from the sidelines at No. 1 Sportsground on Saturday afternoon, his daughter Sophie - Ellyse's sister - held up the other side. It was an imposing sight on the gentle slope at the end of the field where the Lynch family had staked out their supporting ground.

On the field, Ellyse was playing hard, trying to keep the Bombers at bay in her team's first appearance in a Black Diamond Cup grand final since entering the competition in 2016.

Cardiff were the big improvers in 2024, rising from fourth last season to minor premiers, facing Killarney Vale, who knocked them out in preliminary finals the past two years, a 43-15 result last year and 22-20 in 2022.

In the end, the Bombers broke their grand final hoodoo in a rousing victory 5.1 (31) to Cardiff's 3.8 (26).

The Newcastle sports grounds were heaving at the weekend as the Black Diamond Cup at No. 1 backed onto a packed weekend of Netball on Union Street where West Leagues Balance sought to retain their throne against challengers Norths in the code's grand final under a warm and pristine day.