CRL 2024: ROUND 4 CLUB WRAP
Just two points separate the top five teams in the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership after stunning home victories from Riccarton Knights and Eastern Eagles over previously unbeaten teams in Round 4 of the Massetti Cup.
The Knights marked their inaugural Old Boys’ Day – which doubled as a 20th anniversary celebration of the club’s last grand final win, against Linwood in 2004 – with a 32-24 comeback win at the Keas’ expense.
Riccarton opened the scoring early at Crosbie Park through fullback Blake Thompson, but Linwood gradually got on top with the likes of centre Izyah Hesp, who finished with two tries, proving hard to handle. A long-range try finished off by back-row stalwart Michael Nicholls-Cane helped the Keas turn a 10-all scoreline into a 20-10 halftime lead.
The Keas were 24-14 in front with 20 minutes to go, but the Knights – with several of their ’04 premiership heroes cheering on from the sidelines – came home with a wet sail, scoring three unanswered tries with Sidney Tagicakibau and Gaius Reweti completing doubles.
Adding to the nostalgic feel of a gripping encounter, two survivors of the 2004 grand final – Riccarton’s Kyle Leka (whose son, Joel, was also in the Knights’ line-up) and Linwood’s Andrew Auimatagi – featured in the match and were in vintage touch.
Eastern Eagles joined the Knights on a 2-2 record after four rounds courtesy of an emphatic 32-10 defeat of competition leaders Halswell Hornets at Wainoni Park.
Halfback Jacob Nyman put the Hornets on the ledger first with a fifth-minute four-pointer, but the Eagles responded with four unanswered tries to lead 20-4 at the break.
The hosts consolidated their advantage when Carlos Te Rupe Jones crossed five minutes into the second half, while Nyman’s second try was the Hornets’ only further impression on the scoreboard. Winger Noah Saukuru dotted down twice in the latter stages to record a hat-trick and seal a seven-tries-to-two result.
Hornby Panthers drew level with the Keas in equal-second by outlasting a plucky Greymouth Greyhounds outfit 24-16 at Papanui Domain.
The Panthers scored four tries to none in the first half and had effectively wrapped up the match at 24-4 midway through the second half, with fullback Jackson Stewart and centre Jaedon Wellington both scoring twice.
But the Greyhounds outscored the Panthers in the second half 16-6 as centre duo Regan Stanton and Aston Wilson, and prop Joseph Lunn all found their way over the stripe.
Eastern Eagles’ ISC Canterbury Cup team set the tone at Wainoni Park and remained unbeaten with a 32-4 rout of Halswell Hornets, while the 3-1 Hornby Panthers held their spot in outright second via a 26-16 defeat of Papanui Tigers.
Defending premier reserves champions Linwood Keas belatedly opened their 2024 account courtesy of a seesawing 28-26 victory over Riccarton Knights.
Meanwhile, there’s a four-way tie for top spot in Division One after Papanui Tigers chalked up their first win and halted Northern Bulldogs’ dominant, undefeated roll with a 32-18 result, and Shirley Hawks edged Addington Magpies 18-14 in Round 4.
The Bulldogs, Hawks, Woolston Rams and Ashburton Barbarians are all locked on six points in the nine-team competition.
CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMBING & GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 4 RESULTS
Riccarton Knights 32 (Sidney Tagicakibau 2, Gaius Reweti 2, Blake Thompson, Tristan Griffith tries; Matariri Halbert-Pere 4 goals) defeated Linwood Keas 24 (Izyah Hesp 2, Matthew Logopati, Michael Nicholls-Cane, Maoluma Sakaria tries; Daniel Hartley 2 goals) at Crosbie Park
Hornby Panthers 24 (Jackson Stewart 2, Jadeon Wellington 2, Carlos Heather tries; Tyrone Hill 2 goals) defeated Greymouth Greyhounds 16 (Regan Stanton, Aston Wilson, Joseph Lunn tries; Jacob Lowe 2 goals) at Papanui Domain
Eastern Eagles 32 (Noah Saukuru 3, Taniela Leka, Uale Peneli, Peneli Peneli, Carlos Te Rupe Jones tries; Cyrus Timo-Latu 2 goals) defeated Halswell Hornets 10 (Jacob Nyman 2 tries; Nyman goal) at Wainoni Park
CRL ISC SPORT CANTERBURY CUP PREMIER RESERVES – ROUND 4 RESULTS
Linwood Keas 28 defeated Riccarton Knights 26 at Crosbie Park
Hornby Panthers 26 defeated Papanui Tigers 16 at Papanui Domain
Eastern Eagles 32 defeated Halswell Hornets 4 at Wainoni Park
CRL DIVISION ONE – ROUND 4 RESULTS
Shirley Hawks 18 defeated Addington Magpies 14 Macfarlane Park
Papanui Tigers 32 defeated Northern Bulldogs 18 at Papanui Domain
Image credit: Abraham Atherton Photography
