First for official

New Zealand is set to have its first A-League official after Sarah Jones was appointed an assistant referee for the 2016-17 season. Jones, who officiated at the Rio Olympics, has been an assistant referee in the men’s national league for the past two seasons. But this will be her first year in the trans-Tasman competition. She said she was looking forward to stepping up to the fully professional league. ‘‘I know this will be a step up in regards to the level of football and the ability of the players,’’ she said. Meanwhile, another woman, Anna-Marie Keighley, has been named a referee for the premiership in New Zealand.