NEWCASTLE HOSTS MARCEL LINARES PETANQUE TOURNAMENT

While a host of other sports had the long weekend off or were cancelled because of rain, the Newcastle Petanque club pushed ahead with its biggest tournament, the Marcel Linares Open.

Players of all ages from across Australia and New Zealand braved the wet weather, during two days of friendly competition.

In the end a team from Melbourne beat the local pairing of Bronson Romani and Tim Stevenson in the final.