CRL ROUND 1 CLUB WRAP: GREYHOUNDS ROLL KEAS ON THE COAST
Greymouth Greyhounds have kicked off their second season in the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership with a massive statement at Wingham Park, while Hornby Panthers and Riccarton Knights chalked up convincing away wins in the opening round of 2025.
In arguably their most significant result since stepping up to Canterbury Rugby League’s top tier, the Greyhounds toppled Linwood Keas – Pat Smith Trophy champions in seven of the past nine seasons and Massetti Cup winners in 2024 – 20-14 via a second-half comeback.
The Keas led 6-0 at the end of a tight first half after a try to second-rower Tyrell Kakoi. Greyhounds interchange Jordan Duggan’s try levelled it up just after the break, but the visitors took a commanding 14-6 advantage when Alofa Faaiva and Julius Mumuta crossed in quick succession.
Greymouth responded through second-rower Regan Stanton to trim the deficit to two, before Aston Wilson’s penalty goal following the sin-binning of Mumuta squared the scoreboard once again. Winger Navare Jacobs streaked away for the decisive try with seven minutes to go, clinching a famous Greyhounds victory.
Hornby Panthers again proved too strong in the highly anticipated grand final rematch with Halswell Hornets, prevailing 22-6 at Halswell Domain.
In club legend Corey Lawrie’s first match with the coaching clipboard and without the well-worn boots on, the new-look Panthers powered to a 12-0 halftime lead and took a real stranglehold on the game when Kyan Rosie dotted down after the break.
The error-prone Hornets belatedly got on the board inside the last 10 minutes through Rene Frame, but the Panthers had the last say courtesy of Toby Gourdie-Tapp’s try in the dying stages in an impressive start to their title defence.
Riccarton Knights marked Brent Ringdahl’s return to the premiership coaching arena with a gritty 24-12 win over Eastern Eagles at Wainoni Park.
The Knights got off to a 10-0 flyer, but the hosts steadied to go into the sheds just four points in arrears. Tries to interchange duo Tehapi Taukiri and Kolio Vailu’u put the Knights in firm control, however, and Eagles winger Carlos Te Rupe-Jones’ try was essentially a consolation effort.
While the CRL Whithead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership result did not go Eastern’s way, a Wainoni Park triple-header was otherwise a big day out for the Eagles.
Getting underway with a 46-6 win over the Knights in CRL Division One, the Eagles began their CRL ISC Sports Canterbury Cup title defence with an equally dominant 42-4 defeat of Papanui Tigers.
The Hornets’ Division One side went down to Addington Magpies 36-30, but their Premier Reserves outfit came away with a 32-18 victory over the Panthers in a busy day out at Halswell Domain.
The Keas’ CRL ISC Sports Canterbury Cup line-up overwhelmed their Greyhounds counterparts 38-12 in Greymouth on the back of a blistering first-half performance, scoring 26 unanswered points.
Elsewhere in Division One, Celebration Lions marked their return to senior men’s competition with a 20-12 win over defending champs Northern Bulldogs at Murphy Park, and Shirley Hawks also grabbed an away win against Burnham Chevaliers, 36-20 at Coronation Park.
2025 CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMBING AND GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 1 RESULTS
Hornby Panthers 22 (Levi Davis-Nevin, Carlos Heather, Kyan Rosie, Toby Gourdie-Tapp tries; Jacob Hayward 3 goals) defeated Halswell Hornets 6 (Rene Frame try; Jacob Nyman goal) at Halswell Domain
Riccarton Knights 24 (Tristan Griffith, Tehapi Taukiri, Rhys Poko, Kolio Vailu’u tries; Jimmy Wihongi 2, Matariri Halbert-Pere 2 goals) defeated Eastern Eagles 12 (Henare Te Huatahi, Carlos Te Rupe-Jones tries; Huatahi 2 goals) at Wainoni Park
Greymouth Greyhounds 20 (Jordan Duggan, Regan Stanton, Navare Jacobs tries; Aston Wilson 3 goals) defeated Linwood Keas 14 (Tyrell Kakoi, Alofa Faaiva, Julius Mumuta tries; Daniel Hartley goal) at Wingham Park
2025 CRL ISC SPORTS CANTERBURY CUP PREMIER RESERVES – ROUND 1 RESULTS
Halswell Hornets 32 defeated Hornby Panthers 18 at Halswell Domain
Eastern Eagles 42 defeated Papanui Tigers 4 at Wainoni Park
Linwood Keas 38 defeated Greymouth Greyhounds 12 at Wingham Park
2025 CRL DIVISION ONE – ROUND 1 RESULTS
Eastern Eagles 46 defeated Riccarton Knights 6 at Wainoni Park
Addington Magpies 36 defeated Halswell Hornets 30 at Halswell Domain
Shirley Hawks 36 defeated Burnham Chevaliers 20 at Coronation Park
Celebration Lions 20 defeated Northern Bulldogs 12 at Murphy Park
