MATHEW Tait led the North-East's Commonwealth Games medal charge yesterday as England's rugby sevens side edged a thrilling group game with hosts Australia to set up a quarter-final tussle with Samoa.

Having scored a hat-trick of tries as England thrashed Sri Lanka 61-0 in their second group game - the first was a 35-5 victory over the Cook Islands - Wolsingham-born Tait played the full 14 minutes against the Wallabies.

Despite the urgings of a partisan 40,000-strong Telstra Dome crowd, coach Mike Friday's side survived a nail-biting showdown for a 14-12 win over the hosts.

Tries from Simon Amor and Tom Varndell eased England into a seven-point lead but, with the final play of the game, Aussie Cameron Shepherd burst across the try-line.

A successful conversion would have levelled the scores, but Brendan Williams' kick drifted wide to leave England top of their pool.

"It was a hard game but, if we're honest, we made hard work of it," said Tait, who plays for Newcastle Falcons. "We had a few chances which we should have finished.

"It's always good to beat Australia, albeit thanks to a missed kick. When they took their final conversion, I have to admit I had my fingers crossed on the pitch."

The competition will be played to a conclusion this morning, with England taking on Samoa at the quarter-final stage. Wales face pre-tournament favourites Fiji in the last eight, but Scotland are out following defeats to both the Fijians and Canada.

Former Northumbria University student Victoria Pendleton opened the region's account with a silver medal in cycling's 500m time trial.

Bedford-born Pendleton, who was given considerable financial support by Sport Newcastle during her three years in the city, looked to be heading for gold when she smashed the Commonwealth record set in Manchester four years ago.

But Australia's Olympic gold medallist Anna Meares went 0.338 seconds quicker in the next heat.

"I'm happy with my time," said Pendleton, whose best event, the sprint, is still to come. "It's faster than I expected to go."

Loftus youngster Paul Drinkhall enjoyed a dream start to his Commonwealth Games table tennis career as he helped England to whitewashes over Kenya and Guyana.

The 16-year-old remained unbeaten, along with team-mates Alan Cooke, Andrew Baggaley and Andrew Rushton, as England lived up to their billing as the tournament's second seeds.

Qualification from their group is all but assured, although their medal prospects would be enhanced if they could beat Wales today to guarantee top spot.

Newcastle Eagles' three basketball representatives were similarly successful as England opened their account with a 75-59 win over Barbados.

Stockton swimmer Jemma Lowe was the only other North-Easterner in action yesterday, although her family roots meant she was representing Wales. The 15-year-old finished a creditable seventh in the semi-finals of the 50m butterfly.

In all, England claimed seven medals on the opening day, with three coming in a memorable clean sweep in the individual pursuit.

Paul Manning edged out Madison world champion Rob Hayles in the final - Merseysider Stephen Cummings claimed the bronze medal - although the story could have been very different had the trio not had their wits about them as they travelled to Melbourne's Vodafone Arena by bike.

"We were just cycling along and we came out of the bike lane because there were cones in it," said Manning, who added a gold to the bronze he won in Manchester four years ago.

"Suddenly, this guy decided to come very close to us. We said, 'Why are you coming so close' and all I can say is that he didn't seem to like it.

"It was hairy for a minute but, as a cyclist, you get used to being cut up all the time."

Jason Queally won England's fifth cycling medal, claiming silver in the kilometre time trial.

Melanie Marshall took a bronze medal in the pool, finishing third in the first final of the day - the 200m freestyle - behind Scottish winner Caitlin McClatchey.

McClatchey produced a storming finish to overhaul Australian favourite Libby Lenton - in a race in which Richmond's Joanna Jackson finished sixth - and David Carry made it two out of two for Scotland minutes later by winning an Ian Thorpe-less 400m freestyle.

England's final medal came in the gym, with a youthful men's gymnastics team finishing third behind Canada and Australia.

Weightlifter Jo Calvino finished an agonising fourth in the women's under-48kg competition, while Olympic silver medallists Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson began their badminton campaign with a 21-6 21-6 victory during England's 5-0 win over the Seychelles.