CRL 2022 – ROUND 2 WRAP
Linwood Keas exacted some Grand Final retribution and Riccarton Knights carved out an impressive win over a top-four regular to be the only unbeaten teams after two rounds of the 2022 Bartercard CRL Men’s Premiership.
Meanwhile, Eastern Eagles and Halswell Hornets opened their accounts with resounding victories.
Premiers Hornby Panthers grafted their way to a 10-0 halftime lead over the Keas at Linwood Park, but the hosts produced a stunning second-stanza turnaround. The Keas scored six unanswered tries after the break – including five in a sizzling 20-minute burst, with Leon Jarden coming off the bench to bag a double – to bound away with a 30-10 win.
A four-try first half paved the way for Riccarton Knights’ 26-18 home win over Northern Bulldogs, who arrived at Crosbie Park confident after their Round 1 defeat of the Panthers.
The Knights extended their lead to 20 points soon after halftime and held on for a momentous result despite a late surge from the Bulldogs.
Eastern Eagles bounced back from their season-opening loss to the Knights with a dominant 52-12 Wainoni Park derby win against Celebration Lions. The Eagles had the Lions on the ropes early with three tries in the first 18 minutes.
Celebration trimmed the deficit to eight points with the first two tries of the second half – both to lock Shayde Turner – but Eastern clicked back into gear and ran in the last five tries of the match as wingers Carlos Te Rupe-Jones and Pio Ioane finished with doubles.
Edged by a Linwood field goal in Round 1, Halswell showed no mercy in a 78-6 defeat of Papanui. The Hornets racked up 15 tries – including a hat-trick to winger Reupena Fialele. The Tigers displayed some resolve to keep it to one try apiece in the first 20 minutes of the second half, before the Hornets piled on six more tries in the last quarter of the game.
The Tigers’ bid to regroup in Round 3 of the Massetti Cup shapes as a difficult one courtesy of a trip to Linwood Park, while Panthers will aim to get off the mark against the Eagles at home. The Knights host the Hornets in a massive clash between two clubs hoping to stake an early top-four claim, and the Lions and Bulldogs are both searching for their second win of 2022 at Cuthberts Green.
2022 BARTERCARD CRL MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 2 RESULTS
Eastern Eagles 52 (Carlos Te Rupe-Jones 2, Pio Ioane 2, Junior Peneli, Mesiah Ngatuere, Peneli Peneli, Jesse Wihongi, Cyrus Timo-Latu tries; Jimmy-John Rangiawha 8 goals) defeated Celebration Lions 12 (Shayde Turner 2 tries; Jope Gaunavou 2 goals) at Wainoni Park
Halswell Hornets 78 (Reupena Fialele 3, Nick Evans 2, Brodie Greig 2, Hamish Jarden 2, Jacob Paul 2, Jacob Nyman, Caleb Scott, Tahemaka Nui, Benjamin Davison tries; Jamie Nuttridge 9 goals) defeated Papanui Tigers 6 (Shein Holden try; Hayden Tweedie goal) at Papanui Domain
Linwood Keas 30 (Leon Jarden 2, Uili Uili, Danny Samuelu Latu, Chanel Feala, Mika Moemalo Ulu tries; Daniel Hartley 3 goals) defeated Hornby Panthers 10 (Devaun Thompson, Muipu Nati tries; Caleb Murphy goal) at Linwood Park
Riccarton Knights 26 defeated Northern Bulldogs 18 (Armstrong Beedles 2, Matty Clough, Viliame Koroi tries; Nathaniel Tirikatene goal) at Crosbie Park
2022 ISC CRL CANTERBURY CUP PREMIER RESERVES – ROUND 2 RESULTS
Eastern Eagles 24 defeated Woolston Rams 24 at Wainoni Park
Halswell Hornets 46 defeated Greymouth Greyhounds 8 at Papanui Domain
Linwood Keas 38 defeated Hornby Panthers 10 at Linwood Park
Burnham Chevaliers 42 defeated Northern Bulldogs 10 at Coronation Park
2022 CRL PRESIDENTS GRADE – ROUND 2 RESULTS
Northern Bulldogs 36 defeated Riccarton Knights 28 at Crosbie Park
Shirley Hawks 16 defeated Addington Magpies 4 at Macfarlane Park
Sydenham Swans 32 defeated Papanui Tigers 16 at Papanui Domain
