CRL 2024: ROUND 5 CLUB WRAP
Eastern Eagles have claimed back-to-back big scalps and Riccarton Knights are also surging on a three-match winning streak, but it’s Linwood Keas who have jumped to the top of the Massetti Cup standings after another absorbing round of CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership matches.
After handing Halswell Hornets their first loss of the season last Saturday, the Eagles’ stunned Hornby Panthers 16-10 in their own backyard in Round 5.
Tries to Amby Peluga and Carlos Te Rupe Jones gave Eastern an 8-0 halftime lead at Leslie Park. Hornby clawed back to trail just 12-10 in the latter stages of a gripping contest, before Eagles centre Deijdre Siaki crossed for a late sealer.
The Keas leapfrogged the Hornets into first spot on the table courtesy of a 24-16 victory in the clubs’ showdown at Linwood Park.
Outside backs Izyah Hesp and Caleb-Shane Whippy found their way over the try-line as Linwood built a 10-0 halftime advantage, while two tries to experienced back-rower Danny Samuelu-Latu – who was making his 100th appearance for the club – gave the Keas a virtually unassailable 20-point lead midway through the second stanza.
Danny Samuelu-Latu scores the first of two tries in his 100th game for the Keas. Image credit: Abraham Atherton Photography
Halswell fullback Ken Tofilau completed a consolation double during the last quarter.
Riccarton joined Eastern and Halswell in a share of second place – just one point adrift of Linwood – via a 34-8 victory over Greymouth at Leslie Park.
The Knights scored three tries to one in both halves, with front-rower Tama Whatuira breaking down the Greyhounds’ resistance with a brace after the break.
The three ISC Canterbury Cup Round 5 results were the reverse of those in the top-grade matches that followed.
Hornby moved alongside Eastern at the top of the Premier Reserves standings courtesy of a 38-20 victory in the teams’ encounter at Leslie Park, representing the Eagles’ first loss of the season.
Halswell cruised to a 40-16 victory over Linwood, while Papanui also notched an away win at Riccarton in seesawing clash, 40-32.
In a full deck of Division One fixtures, Northern Bulldogs put the Hornets to the sword 60-0 in Kaiapoi, Ashburton Barbarians powered to a 52-20 win over Addington Magpies at Spreydon Domain and Woolston Rams overwhelmed Shirley Hawks 40-20 at home as the trio retained a share of the competition lead.
The Tigers made it two wins over the Knights for the day at Crosbie Park by taking out the Div 1 encounter 34-24.
CRL Bartercard Women’s Premiership newcomers Hornby Panthers and Addington Magpies experienced contrasting fortunes in Sunday’s opening round.
The Panthers carved out a 64-6 victory over Eastern Eagles, with halves duo Kyra-Lee Westland – who added eight goals for a stunning 26-point haul – and Leah Stewart both crossing for three tries at Leslie Park.
The Magpies, however, went down 52-6 to an impressive Burnham Chevaliers outfit at Spreydon Domain.
Chevaliers quartet Chelsea Cadwaller, Sherrane Maui, Annastasis Peters and Chevelle Jones all picked up two tries for the visitors, while Nella Ngahuru backed up from Division One refereeing duties on Saturday to dot down for the Magpies’ only four-pointer.
Sydenham Swans made an early statement in the grand final rematch at Linwood Park, turning the tables on two-time defending champs Linwood Keas 32-22.
The archrivals were locked 16-all at halftime, but two-time Ahi Kā Aotearoa rep and 2023 Trillo Metals Canterbury Women’s debutant Manea-Faith Waaka scored the last three tries of the match – giving her a four-try haul overall – to steer the Swans to an outstanding win.
CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMBING & GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 5 RESULTS
Eastern Eagles 16 (Amby Pulega, Carlos Te Rupe Jones, Uale Peneli, Deijdre Siaki tries) defeated Hornby Panthers 10 (Zinzaan Martin, Carlos Heather tries; Dion Fong-Yip goal) at Leslie Park
Linwood Keas 24 (Danny Samuelu-Latu 2, Izyah Hesp, Caleb-Shane Whippy tries; Daniel Hartley 4 goals) defeated Halswell Hornets 16 (Ken Tofilau 2, Antonio Lemalu tries; Jacob Nyman 2 goals) at Linwood Park
Riccarton Knights 34 (Tama Whatuira 2, Tristan Griffith, Matt Hollis, Rangitane Thompson, Kolio Vailuu tries; Matariri Halbert-Pere 3, Jimmy Rangiawha 2 goals) defeated Greymouth Greyhounds 8 (Zebadiah Thompson, Aston Wilson tries) at Crosbie Park
CRL ISC SPORT CANTERBURY CUP PREMIER RESERVES – ROUND 5 RESULTS
Hornby Panthers 38 defeated Eastern Eagles 20 at Leslie Park
Halswell Hornets 40 defeated Linwood Keas 16 at Linwood Park
Papanui Tigers 40 defeated Riccarton Knights 32 at Crosbie Park
CRL DIVISION ONE – ROUND 5 RESULTS
Northern Bulldogs 60 defeated Halswell Hornets 0 at Murphy Park
Woolston Rams 40 defeated Shirley Hawks 20 at Woolston Park
Papanui Tigers 34 defeated Riccarton Knights 24 at Crosbie Park
Ashburton Barbarians 52 defeated Addington Magpies 20 at Spreydon Domain
Burnham Chevaliers BYE
CRL BARTERCARD WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 1 RESULTS
Burnham Chevaliers 52 (Chelsea Cadwaller 2, Sherrane Maui 2, Annastasis Peters 2, Chevelle Jones 2, Alana Tobia, Shasa Isaacs, Nikita William tries; William 6, Isaacs goals) defeated Addington Magpies 6 (Nella Ngahuru try; Bayli Rapira goal) at Spreydon Domain
Sydenham Swans 32 (Manea-Faith Waaka 4, Janaya Mata, Kyla Lynch-Brown tries; Caitlin Sears 4 goals Linwood Keas 22 (Lialanie Muamua 2, Terauoriwa Harding, Lupe Manu tries; Harding 3 goals) at Linwood Park
Hornby Panthers 64 (Leah Stewart 3, Kyra-Lee Westland 3, MooMooga Palu 2, Iokapeta Fetu 2, Tyler Limmer, Tui Pau’u tries; Westland 8 goals) Eastern Eagles 6 (Simau Seiuli try; Christine Farlow goal) at Leslie Park
Woolston Rams BYE
Image credit: Abraham Atherton Photography
