CRL 2023: RD 15 CLUB WRAP
The 2023 CRL Men’s Premiership regular season concluded amid a Saturday deluge that saw two matches to finish early, while the weekend’s weather event forced the cancellation of Sunday’s penultimate round of CRL Women’s Premiership fixtures.
Hornby Panthers had managed to run in eight tries to two against Northern Bulldogs at Murphy Park when the teams agreed to call a premature end to the match.
The table-topping Panthers marked their capture of the Massetti Cup with a 34-8 victory after leading 18-4 at halftime.
It was a similar story at Crosbie Park: second-placed Linwood Keas led Riccarton Knights 16-4 with a quarter of the match remaining when it was called off due to deteriorating field conditions.
Meanwhile, Halswell Hornets edged Eastern Eagles 16-14 at Wainoni Park in a prelude to the clubs’ sudden-death semi-final meeting in a fortnight’s time.
The fourth-placed Eagles built a 14-10 halftime advantage, but the third-placed Hornets scored the only try of the second stanza to snare a confidence-boosting result ahead of the playoffs.
Greymouth Greyhounds clinched top spot in the ISC Canterbury Cup with an emphatic 32-6 final-round win over the grade’s defending champs, Linwood Keas, at Crosbie Park. Halfback Luke Negri and lock Jordan Campbell both grabbed doubles for the West Coast outfit.
Competition co-leaders heading into the weekend, Ashburton went down 26-0 at Murphy Park to Hornby Panthers, who consequently finished third ahead of the Keas.
In the battle to avoid last place in the Premier Reserves standings, Eastern Eagles carved out a 36-16 win over Halswell Hornets.
Papanui Tigers ensured they will finish the Division One season as outright leaders courtesy of a 30-18 defeat of Shirley Hawks at Macfarlane Park.
Second-placed Riccarton Knights were too good for Papanui’s second-tier Division One team, notching a 26-14 home win.
2023 CRL MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – MASSETTI CUP ROUND 15
Linwood Keas 16 (Maoluma Sakaria, Leon Jarden, Jayden Hoeta tries; Daniel Hartley 2 goals) defeated Riccarton Knights 4 (Matt Hollis try) at Crosbie Park
Hornby Panthers 34 (Eti Collins, Jaedon Wellington, Seamus Stack, Tevin Arona, Muipu Nati, Keletisia Tongotongo, Zinzaan Martin, Champ Betham tries; Arona 3 goals) defeated Northern Bulldogs 8 (Mark Parkinson, Keri Wilson tries) at Murphy Park
Halswell Hornets 16 defeated Eastern Eagles 14 at Wainoni Park
2023 CRL PREMIER RESERVES – ISC CANTERBURY CUP
Eastern Eagles 36 defeated Halswell Hornets 16 at Wainoni Park
Greymouth Greyhounds 32 defeated Linwood Keas 6 at Crosbie Park
Hornby Panthers 26 defeated Linwood Keas 0 at Murphy Park
2023 CRL DIVISION ONE
Riccarton Knights 26 defeated Papanui Div 1 14 at Crosbie Park
Papanui Tigers 30 defeated Shirley Hawks 18 at Macfarlane Park
Northern Bulldogs WBD-LBD Hornby Panthers Div 1
Photo Credit: Abraham Atherton Photography
