CRL 2024: ROUND 14 WRAP
A phenomenally tight and topsy-turvy CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership received an appropriately dramatic finish to the regular season – which handed Halswell Hornets and Riccarton Knights finals spots and saw Eastern Eagles miss out in agonising fashion.
The fifth-placed Eagles were on course to snatch a place in the playoffs when they fought back from 18-4 down at Halswell Domain to lead 20-18.
But Hornets centre Nicholas Evans crossed for his second try in the dying seconds, stealing a 24-20 result and confirm his team’s place in the finals. Winger Denzel Siaki notched a double for the crestfallen Eagles.
That result saved the Knights, who rallied from 16 points down against Linwood Keas but ultimately came up short 20-16.
An Eagles win would have consigned the Knights to a fifth-place finish – but news that their season was still alive alleviated their own loss on an afternoon where Riccarton stalwarts Justin Lynch (200 games) and Caleb Reweti (100 games) celebrated major milestones.
Impressive centre Izyah Hesp scored three tries for the Keas, who had already secured the Massetti Cup and a home major semi with a round to spare.
Linwood will host old foe Hornby for the first spot in the grand final, after the Panthers overcame a trademark fast start from Greymouth Greyhounds to come away with a 20-10 win at Wingham Park and clinch second on the ladder.
The Greyhounds led 10-0 in the third match of the season staged on the West Coast, but the Panthers opened their account late in the first half and scored the only three tries of the second stanza. Centre Toby Gibson dotted down three times for the visitors.
The Hornets and Eagles will meet at Halswell Domain next week in the elimination semi-final.
Halswell Hornets finished atop the CRL ISC Sports Canterbury Cup ladder with a 20-8 defeat of co-leaders Eastern Eagles. The teams will square off again at Halswell Domain next week.
Fourth-placed Papanui Tigers earned a handy psychological edge ahead of their elimination semi against Hornby Panthers, winning the teams’ final-round clash in Greymouth 20-10.
Riccarton Knights avoided last place in the Canterbury Cup with a 24-14 win over Linwood Keas.
The penultimate round of the CRL Division One competition saw Woolston Rams consolidate third spot with a 56-14 thrashing of Shirley Hawks, while Ashburton Barbarians remained in second via a 44-6 rout of Addington Magpies.
Sydenham Swans jumped to the outright lead with one round of the CRL Bartercard Women’s Premiership regular season remaining, overwhelming Woolston Rams 40-16.
Kyla Lynch-Brown scored a first-half hat-trick for the Swans, while the prolific Caitlin Sears finished with 16 points from a try and six goals.
The Swans head into the last round one point ahead of Linwood Keas with Hornby Panthers another point back in third.
Burnham Chevaliers sealed their place in the finals with a thrilling 18-14 win over Eastern Eagles. Chelsea Cadwallader bagged three tries as the Chevaliers overturned an early 10-0 deficit.
CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMBING & GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 14 RESULTS
Hornby Panthers 20 defeated Greymouth Greyhounds 10 at Wingham Park
Halswell Hornets 24 defeated Eastern Eagles 20 at Halswell Domain
Linwood Keas 20 defeated Riccarton Knights 16 at Linwood Park
CRL ISC SPORTS CANTERBURY CUP PREMIER RESERVES – ROUND 14 RESULTS
Papanui Tigers 20 defeated Hornby Panthers 10 at Wingham Park
Halswell Hornets 20 defeated Eastern Eagles 8 at Halswell Domain
Riccarton Knights 24 defeated Linwood Keas 14 at Linwood Park
CRL DIVISION ONE – ROUND 14 RESULTS
Woolston Rams 56 defeated Shirley Hawks 14 at Macfarlane Park
Ashburton Barbarians 44 defeated Addington Magpies 6 at Robilliard Park
CRL BARTERCARD WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 9 RESULTS
Burnham Chevaliers 18 defeated Eastern Eagles 14 at Coronation Park
Sydenham Swans 40 defeated Woolston Rams 16 at Woolston Park
