CRL YOUTH WRAP & WEEKEND PREVIEW
YOUTH WRAP – JUNE 7
It was a quiet week on the youth night competition front with Monday’s grades taking a break for the King’s Birthday holidays, but the 14s boys teams were in action at Ngā Puna Wai on Wednesday night for their sixth-round fixtures.
Riccarton Knights stayed undefeated with a 42-10 victory over Linwood Keas, while Sydenham Swans consolidated second spot with their fifth win of the season, 46-4 over Papanui Tigers. Hornby Panthers edged past the Keas into third on for-and-against via a 50-6 win against Eastern Eagles.
All other boys and girls grades resume on Monday night.
SEE ALL DRAWS, RESULTS AND STANDINGS HERE
WEEKEND PREVIEW – JUNE 9-11
After a week’s break, Round 10 of the CRL Men’s Premiership gets underway with the third 2023 edition of Friday Night Lights at Ngā Puna Wai – a vital 7pm clash between third-placed Halswell Hornets and fourth-placed Eastern Eagles. The Hornets are on a three-match winning streak, while the Eagles, who are four points adrift, are aiming to bounce back from a Round 9 loss to Riccarton Knights.
The Knights – in better form than their 2-7 record might suggest – host Linwood Keas at Crosbie Park on Saturday. Hornby Panthers, who joined the Keas at the top of the Massetti Cup ladder with a stirring 42-28 win over their archrivals in Round 9, welcome last-placed Northern Bulldogs to Leslie Park. Both games kick off at 2.45pm.
With the top-six/bottom-five split in the ISC Canterbury Cup occurring next week, teams are jostling for position on the table.
In the marquee clash of the Premier Reserves round, unbeaten ladder leaders Greymouth Greyhounds will embark of their third defence of the Thacker Shield when fifth-placed Halswell Hornets – who are on a four-match winning run – make the trip over to Wingham Park. Kick-off for that showdown is 2.45pm, while all other ISC Canterbury Cup matches start at 1pm.
In Sunday’s CRL Women’s Premiership fixtures, Linwood Keas host Sydenham Swans in the second grand final rematch of the season. The defending champion Keas scored a hard-fought 30-20 win at Bradford Park in late-April and the Swans will be eager to turn the tables at Linwood Park this weekend. Woolston Rams will be striving to cement their third-place standing when they host Burnham Chevaliers. Both women’s matches kick off at 1pm.
Hornby Panthers and Papanui Tigers celebrate their respective 2023 Club Days on Saturday.
SEE ALL DRAWS, RESULTS AND STANDINGS HERE
Photo Credit: Russie Photos
