Wild weather in Newcastle has wreaked havoc with the opening day of the NRLW’s first-ever Magic Round.\u00a0<\/p>\n
All three matches on the first afternoon of the two-day extravaganza were played in torrential conditions, while the Tigers-Roosters match was temporarily delayed due to an approaching thunderstorm.<\/p>\n
With the Tricolours leading 20-4 five minutes into the second half, play was suspended for 35 minutes after lightning was detected in the area.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
One of the matches on Saturday was subject to a rare delay.\u00a0 (Getty Images: Scott Gardiner\u00a0)<\/p>\n
Brisbane’s match against Cronulla later in the evening was also temporarily postponed midway through the first half.<\/p>\n
Such measures are uncommon in first-grade rugby league but not unprecedented \u2014 a men’s match between Canterbury and South Sydney in June was delayed for the same reason.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before the delay, conditions were already challenging, with water pooling across the pitch under the heavy downpour.<\/p>\n
The rain made handling especially difficult in the opening match of the day between the Bulldogs and the Titans, which ended in a 14-all draw \u2014 the first stalemate in the competition’s seven-year history.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“You have to play in any conditions at the end of the day,” said Bulldogs captain Tayla Preston.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Errors are going to happen in that weather, but there was a period of about five minutes where none of us could see the ball or the players.<\/p>\n
“But we had the fans turn out, and both teams tried to do their best with the conditions.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Handling was difficult throughout the first day of Magic Round.\u00a0 (Getty Images: Scott Gardiner)<\/p>\n
In the second match of the day, the Roosters resumed control on resumption of their game against the Tigers and ran out 34-6 winners.<\/p>\n
Star centre Isabelle Kelly ran in a double as the premiership favourites stayed unbeaten in a comprehensive performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The opening day wrapped up with the Broncos dispatching of Cronulla to the tune of 28-14.<\/p>\n
Brisbane fullback Tamika Upton produced another scintillating performance, running in for three tries.<\/p>\n
The round continues tomorrow with another triple-header.<\/p>\n
But the heavens are expected to open yet again, with up to 35mm of rain expected in the Hunter.\u00a0<\/p>\n