CRL 2024: ROUND 6 CLUB WRAP
The CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership ladder has received another shake-up, with Halswell Hornets and Riccarton Knights producing big second-half performances in Round 6 to jump into equal-first alongside Linwood Keas, who were run down by Club Day-celebrating Eastern Eagles in a thrilling draw.
The Eagles’ 24-all result against the Keas followed on from statement victories over the Hornets and Hornby Panthers, keeping them one point shy of the competition lead.
Linwood led 14-4 at halftime and 24-10 midway through the second stanza at Wainoni Park, but stormed back with three late tries – including a 79th-minute leveller to winger Noah Saukuru.
The Knights chalked up a fourth straight victory and left Leslie Park with the Jonny Pitman Cup courtesy of a resounding 38-10 defeat of the Panthers.
The showdown was delicately poised at 16-10 in the visitors’ favour at the break, but the Knights ran in four unanswered tries to carve out a memorable result.
Another plucky performance from Greymouth Greyhounds wasn’t enough to snare an elusive maiden premiership win, with the Hornets retaining the Thacker Shield 36-20 on Old Boys’ Day at Halswell Domain.
As they have done regularly during their historic campaign in the CRL’s top flight, the Greyhounds scored the opening try – but the Hornets got on top later in the first half and early in the second to establish an imposing lead.
Veteran Halswell centre Ken Tofilau scored two of his team’s six tries.
Eastern Eagles and Hornby Panthers maintained their four-point break on the rest of the ISC Canterbury Cup field via big wins over Linwood Keas (24-10) and Riccarton Knights (38-18) in Round 6.
Halswell Hornets moved into outright third on the table after a 52-10 victory against Papanui Tigers.
In Division One, Woolston Rams’ 46-22 away win over Addington Magpies kept them in a share of top spot with Northern Bulldogs and Ashburton Barbarians. The Hornets picked up a crucial 60-20 win over the Tigers.
CRL Batercard Women’s Premiership newcomers Hornby Panthers made a big statement in Sunday’s Round 2 Ngā Puna Wai triple-header, defeating Sydenham Swans 24-16.
Iokapeta Fetu bagged a first-half double to put the Panthers in front at the break, while a Katelyn Arona early in the second stanza put them firmly in control.
Linwood Keas bounced back from a first-up loss to the Swans via an emphatic 60-0 win over Addington Magpies. Peleogaiga Loto, Djah Tuliau, Paige Allan and Briana Hoeta scored two tries each for the two-time defending champs.
CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMBING & GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – MASSETTI CUP: ROUND 6 RESULTS
Halswell Hornets 36 (Ken Tofilau 2, Jared Sherwin, Nicholas Evans, Joshua Aileone, Cameron-Brody Greig tries; Jacob Nyman 5, Greig goals) defeated Greymouth Greyhounds 20 (Keith Black, Brett Rees, Caleb Thompson tries; Jesse Wihongi 4 goals) at Halswell Domain
Riccarton Knights 38 (Justin Lynch, Nepia Reweti, Solomone Leka, Matariri Halbert-Pere, Sidney Tagicakibau, Te Morehu Reweti, Tristan Griffith tries; Jimmy Rangiawha 5 goals) defeated Hornby Panthers 10 (Christian Fetu, Eti Collins tries; Dion Fong-Yip goal) at Leslie Park
Eastern Eagles 24 (Peneli Peneli, Junior Peneli, Uale Peneli, Mita Maamaloa, Noah Saukuru tries; Cyrus Timo-Latu 2 goals) drew with Linwood Keas 24 (Elijah Tuhura, Matthew Molioo, Leon Jarden, Maoluma Sakaria, Sakiusa Lomanikaya tries; Daniel Hartley 2 goals) at Linwood Park
CRL ISC SPORT CANTERBURY CUP – PREMIER RESERVES: ROUND 6 RESULTS
Eastern Eagles 24 defeated Linwood Keas 10 at Wainoni Park
Halswell Hornets 52 defeated Papauni Tigers 10 at Halswell Domain
Hornby Panthers 38 defeated Riccarton Knights 18 at Leslie Park
CRL DIVISION ONE – ROUND 6 RESULTS
Halswell Hornets 60 defeated Papanui Tigers 20 at Halswell Domain
Woolston Rams 46 defeated Addington Magpies 22 at Spreydon Domain
CRL BARTERCARD WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 2 RESULTS
Linwood Keas 60 (Peleogaiga Loto 2, Djah Tuliau 2, Paige Allan 2, Briana Hoeta 2, Neve Anglesey, Lialanie Muamua, Sereana Tunidau, Diana Tuipulotu tries; Terauoriwa Harding 6 goals) defeated Addington Magpies 0 at Ngā Puna Wai
Hornby Panthers 24 (Iokapeta Fetu 2, Courtney Shadbolt, Katelyn Arona, Tui Pau’u tries; Kyra-Lee Westland 2 goals) defeated Sydenham Swans 16 (Manea-Faith Waaka, Theresa MacPherson, Trinity Rukuwai Te Toha tries; Caitlin Sears 2 goals) at Ngā Puna Wai
Woolston Rams 32 (Cassie Siataga 4, Fleur Barker, Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox tries; Siataga 4 goals) defeated Eastern Eagles 14 (Simau Seiuli 2, Rebecca Perrett tries; Epenesa Sala Aukuso goal) at Ngā Puna Wai
Image credit: Abraham Atherton Photography
