Rutherford, the debut team for the season, sits atop the ladder after the opening round with a 7-0 victory over Cooks Hill, but it was the final two matches of the day that saw the most excitement.

The match between Belmont and Raymond Terrace was special one for the Terrace team, as they became the first team to record 100 official matches played in the Newcastle Dodgeball League’s ten seasons, but disappointment came hand in hand with the milestone for the stalwart club.

Belmont claimed the two points with a 9-7 win, but it wasn’t until the final round of the match that the result was guaranteed.

Heading into the last 4-minute match-up at 8-7, Belmont had successfully managed a recovery from a 2-5 deficit to Raymond Terrace, but a series of strong rounds from Nic Price and Jakub Lunarzewski‎– as well as miscommunication on a line-play for the Terrace – brought them back into the tie.

The win leaves Belmont sitting in second place on the ladder, with the win an-all important four points – the squad have struggled to make play-offs in recent seasons due to injuries and absences.

The final match of the opening round was a tense affair, played out between Hamilton and Waratah.

The oldest match-up in the league, spanning all ten seasons of the competition, often ends in a cagey draw-score, and this occasion was no exception.

Although the 6-all scoreline suggested a tight match from the opening whistle, it was a surge late in the tie for Waratah to grab 3 rounds on the bounce, and a one-against-five outplay from Lewis Foot in the eighth round to put nick two crucial points for Hamilton in the draw.

Competition Table: Rutherford (4), Belmont (4), Hamilton (2), Waratah (2), Raymond Terrace (0), Cooks Hill (0).

If you’re interested in registering for the Newcastle Dodgeball League, head to newcastledodgeball.com/register-now, or email newcastledodgeball@gmail.com.