CRL 2022 – ROUND 5 WRAP
Linwood Keas remain unbeaten at the top of the Bartercard CRL Men’s Premiership table, while Hornby Panthers have put a slow start to their title defence behind them with a second straight win in Round 5 of the Massetti Cup.
Linwood rolled on to a 5-0 record with a hard-fought 30-16 victory over rising Eastern. The Keas raced out to an 18-0 lead at Wainoni Park in even time, but the Eagles responded with three unanswered tries to cut the deficit to just two points.
The visitors stemmed the tide, however, and secured the result with the last two tries of the match – including Danny Samueleu-Latu’s second.
Meanwhile, Hornby’s 0-3 start is firmly in the rear-view mirror after following up last week’s much-needed win over Celebration with a 44-16 defeat of Riccarton at Leslie Park.
The Panthers powered to a 22-0 lead – with winger Christian Fetu bagging a double – before the Knights hit back with a couple of tries late in the first half. But after an arm-wrestle early in the second stanza, the defending champs put the game out of reach via a four-try flurry in the space of 12 minutes. Panthers centre Isileli Pulu also finished with a brace of tries.
Northern Bulldogs held onto fourth spot on the ladder with a rampant attacking exhibition at Murphy Park, running in 16 tries in an 82-0 win over Papanui Tigers.
Armstrong Beedles notched a first-half hat-trick and four other Bulldogs players picked up doubles in a tough trip to Kaiapoi for the Tigers.
The Hornets retained second place in the Massetti Cup standings after the Lions defaulted their scheduled showdown at Halswell Domain.
BARTERCARD CRL MEN’S PREMIERSHIP RD 5 RESULTS
Linwood Keas 30 (Danny Samueleu-Latu 2, Alex Todd, Erwin Sauni, Makrini Mohi tries; Daniel Hartley 5 goals) defeated Eastern Eagles 16 (Henare Nukunuku, Bruce Taula, Sincere Harraway tries; Nukunuku 2 goals) at Wainoni Park
Hornby Panthers 44 (Christian Fetu 2, Isileli Pulu 2, Lewis Allan, Corey Lawrie, Jordan Campbell, Devaun Thompson tries; Caleb Murphy 6 goals) defeated Riccarton Knights 16 (Ihaia Cox-Winiata, Te Morehe Rewiti, Rueben Te Amo tries; Mata Halbert-Pere 2 goals) at Leslie Park
Northern Bulldogs 82 (Armstrong Beedles 3, Vinnie Paul 2, Cameron Godfrey 2, Riley Hurst 2, Ethan Plaskett 2, Patella Tou, James Stevenson, Riki Koni, Nathaniel Tirikatene, Quentin Vui tries; Tirikatene 5, Plaskett 2, Paul, Vui goals) defeated Papanui Tigers 0 at Murphy Park
Halswell Hornets WBD-LBD Celebration Lions
ISC SPORTS CRL CANTERBURY CUP MEN’S PREMIER RESERVES RD 5 RESULTS
Eastern Eagles 38 defeated Linwood Keas 22 at Wainoni Park
Hornby Panthers 32 defeated Burnham Chevaliers 18 at Leslie Park
Greymouth Greyhounds 44 defeated Ashburton Barbarians 12 at Norman Kirk Park
Woolston Rams 30 defeated Northern Bulldogs 22 at Murphy Park
CRL WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP RD 2 RESULTS
Woolston Rams 22 defeated Burnham Chevaliers 4 at Woolston Park
Sydenham Swans 20 defeated Linwood Keas 18 at Linwood Park
