CRL 2024: ROUND 2 CLUB PREVIEW
The second round of the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership is headlined by an always hotly anticipated grand final rematch – but all three Massetti Cup fixtures hold a massive amount of interest after the opening weekend’s results.
Linwood and Hornby have contested seven of the last eight premiership deciders, with the Keas snatching absolute nail-biters in 2022 and ’23 after the Panthers’ equally memorable, sole triumph during that period in 2021.
The rollercoaster rivalry was as eventful as ever throughout 2023. The Keas romped to a 56-16 early-season win at Linwood Park, but the Panthers hit back with victories at home (42-28) and away (16-8) to claim top spot on the ladder. The Keas won a qualifying final thriller at Leslie Park 21-20 before holding on 16-14 in another grand final classic at Ngā Puna Wai.
The heavyweights both earned hard-fought wins in Round 1 – Linwood 16-14 over Eastern at home and Hornby 26-20 at Riccarton – and are set to produce another barnburner at Leslie Park this Saturday.
The Eagles get a chance to open their account for 2024 at Wainoni Park against Greymouth Greyhounds, who embark on their first road trip as a premiership side after going down 46-10 to Halswell Hornets in their top-grade debut on the West Coast last week.
The Hornets will look to consolidate that strong opening statement when they host Riccarton Knights at Halswell Domain.
Squaring the ledger after losing to the Knights in the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Pre-season Competition final three weeks ago will no doubt factor into the Hornets’ motivation, but perhaps most significantly they will defend the Thacker Shield lifted from the Greyhounds.
All CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership Round 2 matches kick off at 2.45pm Saturday.
The corresponding ISC Sports Canterbury Cup matches will kick off at the same venues at 1pm, including Papanui Tigers’ clash with Eastern Eagles.
The Eagles made a Round 1 statement over defending Premier Reserves champs Linwood Keas, winning 42-24 on the road, while the Tigers went down 30-12 to the Hornets in Greymouth.
The Keas and Panthers, who went down 42-14 at Riccarton last week, will be eager to get off the mark for 2024 at Leslie Park, while the Hornets-Knights showdown promises to be an absorbing encounter after their respective convincing wins last week.
In Division One action, first-round winners Northern Bulldogs and Addington Magpies square off at Murphy Park, Halswell Hornets get their campaign underway against first-up victors Ashburton Barbarians, and Burnham Chevaliers look to bounce back from last week’s loss against Shirley Hawks, who beat Papanui Tigers in Round 1.
All three matches kick off at 1pm.
Starting at 2.15pm, Woolston Rams host the Tigers in a key clash between two winless sides.
VIEW ALL DRAWS, RESULTS AND STANDINGS HERE
