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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Renee Valentine

Quick plays: All you need to know from a weekend of sport in Newcastle

National Women's Rugby 7s match between University of Newcastle and Canberra at St John Oval on Saturday. Picture: Jonathan Carroll
National Women's Rugby 7s match between University of Newcastle and Canberra at St John Oval on Saturday. Picture: Jonathan Carroll
National Women's Rugby 7s match between University of Newcastle and Canberra at St John Oval on Saturday. Picture: Jonathan Carroll
National Women's Rugby 7s match between University of Newcastle and Canberra at St John Oval on Saturday. Picture: Jonathan Carroll
National Women's Rugby 7s match between University of Newcastle and Canberra at St John Oval on Saturday. Picture: Jonathan Carroll
National Women's Rugby 7s match between University of Newcastle and Canberra at St John Oval on Saturday. Picture: Jonathan Carroll
National Women's Rugby 7s match between University of Newcastle and Canberra at St John Oval on Saturday. Picture: Jonathan Carroll
National Women's Rugby 7s match between University of Newcastle and Canberra at St John Oval on Saturday. Picture: Jonathan Carroll
National Women's Rugby 7s match between University of Newcastle and Canberra at St John Oval on Saturday. Picture: Jonathan Carroll
National Women's Rugby 7s match between University of Newcastle and Canberra at St John Oval on Saturday. Picture: Jonathan Carroll
National Women's Rugby 7s match between University of Newcastle and Canberra at St John Oval on Saturday. Picture: Jonathan Carroll
National Women's Rugby 7s match between University of Newcastle and Canberra at St John Oval on Saturday. Picture: Jonathan Carroll
National Women's Rugby 7s match between University of Newcastle and Canberra at St John Oval on Saturday. Picture: Jonathan Carroll
National Women's Rugby 7s match between University of Newcastle and Canberra at St John Oval on Saturday. Picture: Jonathan Carroll
NDCA first-grade action between Stockton and Hamwicks at Lynn Oval on Saturday. Picture by Jonathan Carroll
NDCA first-grade action between Stockton and Hamwicks at Lynn Oval on Saturday. Picture by Jonathan Carroll
NDCA first-grade action between Stockton and Hamwicks at Lynn Oval on Saturday. Picture by Jonathan Carroll
NDCA first-grade action between Stockton and Hamwicks at Lynn Oval on Saturday. Picture by Jonathan Carroll
NDCA first-grade action between Stockton and Hamwicks at Lynn Oval on Saturday. Picture by Jonathan Carroll
NDCA first-grade action between Stockton and Hamwicks at Lynn Oval on Saturday. Picture by Jonathan Carroll
NDCA first-grade action between Stockton and Hamwicks at Lynn Oval on Saturday. Picture by Jonathan Carroll
NDCA first-grade action between Stockton and Hamwicks at Lynn Oval on Saturday. Picture by Jonathan Carroll
NDCA first-grade action between Stockton and Hamwicks at Lynn Oval on Saturday. Picture by Jonathan Carroll

The Newcastle Jets got their A-League season off to a great start when they snatched an important three points with a last-gasp goal against Perth Glory at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The 2-1 win was the first time the Jets had opened the season with victory in five years and came after their round-one F3 derby with the Mariners one week earlier had to be abandoned due to a water-logged Central Coast Stadium field.

The result, however, came at a cost with Jordan Elsey red-carded midway through the second half after the experienced defender had scored the game's first goal 10 minutes earlier.

The game was all locked up at 1-1 until Georgian Beka Mikeltadze found an injury-time winner to the delight of the Newcastle faithful.

Jets co-captain Brandon O'Neill praised the side's character to come up with a gutsy win, saying, "You are not meant to win a game of football with 10 men."

Next up for Newcastle is Wellington Phoenix on Saturday night. Elsey is likely to miss the next two outings at least through suspension with Matt Jurman his possible replacement.

Improved showing for Newcastle in Uni 7s

Newcastle rugby sevens player Peta Salter hailed her side's improved showing after they finished fourth in the latest round of the national university series held in Charlestown over the weekend.

The University of Newcastle women's side won three games straight on day one of the tournament at St John Oval to enter Sunday as one of two undefeated teams.

They lost both matches on Sunday but ended up in a better position than their sixth from round one in Adelaide.

The series heads to Canberra for the third and final tournament in a fortnight.

Teenager's ton steers Belmont home

Teenager opener Joseph Gillard scored the maiden century of his Newcastle District Cricket Association career to guide Belmont to a morale-boosting victory against Cardiff-Boolaroo at Pasterfield Sports Complex on Saturday.

"He really showed his maturity in this game," Belmont skipper Luke Muddle said of Gillard.

"From where he was last year to now, he's just taken a huge leap. It's a credit to him for working his arse off."

Belmont were tipped to struggle this season but Muddle predicted his side would cause some upsets.

At Lynn Oval, Stockton launched their premiership defence in style with a comprehensive victory over Hamilton-Wickham in a rematch of last season's two grand finalists.

Wests, University, Charlestown and Wallsend also took wins.

Iffland gets on top Down Under

Rhiannan Iffland made a fairytale return to Australia by winning the Sydney leg of the Red Bull cliff-diving series on Saturday to underline her status as the undisputed world champion.

The 31-year-old from Lake Macquarie - who clinched her sixth successive world title at the tour's previous stop in Bari, Italy, in September - racked up 387.75 points to clinch first place as the high-dive spectacle made its first visit to Australia.

What else happened

Ky Willott bagged a double to help NSW Pride remain unbeaten in the Hockey One League as the side prepares to play its first home game later this week.

Knights winger Dominic Young described his international debut as a "dream come true" after crossing twice in England's 54-point win over Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup opener on home soil at St James Park on Sunday.

Nelson Bay's Maya Stewart celebrated her Wallaroos debut with a 14-12 win over Scotland in the Women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand on Saturday.

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