STAGE SET FOR EXPANDED CRL WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP’S OPENING ROUND
The Canterbury Rugby League season ramps up courtesy of Sunday’s opening round of the 2024 CRL Women’s Premiership, completing the ongoing full weekend schedule of senior club football.
Two-time defending premiers Linwood Keas, 2022-23 runners-up Sydenham Swans, Woolston Rams, Eastern Eagles and Burnham Chevaliers will be joined this year by Addington Magpies and Hornby Panthers in a seven-team competition – a reflection of the growth in women’s rugby league in Canterbury and the commitment of the region’s clubs to grow this area of the game.
Round 1 features a grand final rematch between the Keas and Swans at Linwood Park, while the Magpies (Spreydon Domain) and Panthers (Leslie Park) get their campaigns underway at home, hosting the Chevaliers and Eagles, respectively.
All matches kick off at 1pm on Sunday. The Rams have the first bye.
Joseph Mika, who was installed as the Trillo Metals Women’s Canterbury Bulls coach for 2024-25 after guiding Linwood to grand final success last season, is especially enthused about the expanded CRL Women’s Premiership.
“I’m looking forward to the competition starting this Sunday and am really excited to get around the grounds to see our women in action,” Mika says.
“The addition of the Panthers and Magpies is a good step forward in growing the women’s game here, and I hope that will lead to a bigger player pool to select a strong mix of youth and experienced players come the rep season.”
The timing of the addition of two teams and a sharp increase in playing numbers in Canterbury is auspicious, following the announcement Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs – who have a development and pathways agreement with CRL – and the returning Warriors will join a 12-team NRLW premiership in 2025.
TRILLO METALS WOMEN’S CANTERBURY BULLS WELCOME JOSEPH MIKA AS 2024-25 HEAD COACH
Last weekend’s results in the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership created a congested ladder, with just two points separating the top five teams after four rounds.
Halswell Hornets still hold the outright lead but can get leapfrogged by their Round 5 hosts, Linwood Keas, who are also aiming to bounce back from a loss last weekend, and Hornby Panthers this week.
The Panthers face Eastern Eagles – who handed the Hornets their first loss of the season in Round 4 – at Leslie Park.
Buoyed by a comeback win over the Keas on their inaugural Old Boys Day, Riccarton Knights are on the charge for three straight victories when they welcome the plucky, but winless, Greymouth Greyhounds to Crosbie Park.
The Greyhounds are inching closer to maiden premiership W, having pushed the Eagles and Panthers in recent weeks.
All three CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership fixtures kick off at 2.45pm, following their corresponding ISC Canterbury Cup matches at the same venues from 1pm.
It’s a top-of-the-table clash in the Premiers Reserves competition with the unbeaten Eagles facing the second-placed Panthers.
The Knights and Papanui Tigers are both looking to get back in the winner’s circle after Round 4 defeats, while the defending champion Keas will be striving to keep their hard-fought momentum going against the Hornets after getting off the mark for 2024 last Saturday.
There’s a three-way tie at the top of the Division One table, with two of those teams – Woolston Rams and Shirley Hawks – squaring off at Woolston Park from 2.15pm.
Top-ranked Northern Bulldogs will be hellbent on bouncing back from their first loss of the season when they host the Hornets at Murphy Park at 1pm.
Meanwhile, Riccarton Knights play Papanui Tigers at Crosbie Park and Addington Magpies lock horns with Ashburton Barbarians at Spreydon Domain, with both matches kicking off at 2.15pm.
