CRL ROUND 2 CLUB WRAP: GREYHOUNDS AND PANTHERS GO 2-0, KEAS ON THE BOARD
Greymouth Greyhounds and Hornby Panthers remain undefeated after saluting in Round 2 of the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership, while Linwood Keas got off the mark for 2025 to make it a clean sweep for the home teams on Saturday.
Following a momentous opening-week win over the Keas at home, the Greyhounds enhanced Wingham Park’s status as a graveyard for visiting teams with a 30-16 defeat of fellow Round 1 winners Riccarton Knights.
The Knights led 12-6 during the first half but the Greyhounds fought back to claim an 18-12 advantage at the break and surge home with three tries to one in the second stanza.
Defending champions the Panthers won a Leslie Park thriller against Eastern Eagles 24-20.
Hornby raced to a 20-0 lead midway through the opening half but the Eagles pegged the deficit to just six points at halftime, before Northern Bulldogs transfer Cameron Godfrey’s try levelled up the scores.
Toby Gibson crossed for the Panthers’ match-winner with 10 minutes to go.
The Keas also withstood a comeback to run out 22-12 winners against Halswell Hornets at Linwood Park.
Andrew Auimatagi’s charges led 16-0 before Halswell hit back with a try before the break. The Hornets then scored the first two tries of the second half to trim the gap to four points, before a converted try to the Keas provided crucial breathing space.
The Hornets will be eager to break their 2025 duck when they host the Greyhounds, who make their first trip to Christchurch this season, in Round 3. Meanwhile, the Keas and Eagles face off in an eastside derby at Linwood Park, and the Panthers face the Knights at Leslie Park.
Linwood Keas are the only 2-0 team in the CRL ISC Sports Canterbury Cup after outlasting 2024 grand finalists Halswell Hornets 34-20.
Hornby Panthers and Eastern Eagles drew 22-all, while Papanui Tigers picked up their first win 32-24 over Greymouth Greyhounds.
In CRL Division One, Eastern Eagles, Celebration Lions and Shirley Hawks all hold a share of the competition lead after notching back-to-back victories, while Burnham Chevaliers got on the board with a big victory over Northern Bulldogs.
Photo credit: Abraham Atherton Photography
2025 CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMBING AND GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 2 RESULTS
Linwood Keas 22 (Elisara Vaifale, Alofa Faaiva, Pesemane Pouli, Sakiusa Lomanikaya tries; Daniel Hartley 3 goals) defeated Halswell Hornets 12 (Jared Sherwin, Ollie Hansen, Cooper Te Hau tries) at Linwood Park
Hornby Panthers 24 (Maddox Wright, Devaun Thompson, Eti Collins, Toby Gibson, Seamus Stack tries; Levi Davis-Nevin 2 goals) defeated Eastern Eagles 20 (Henare Te Huatahi, Uale Peneli, Cameron Godfrey, Mita Maamaloa tries; Te Huatahi 2 goals) at Leslie Park
Greymouth Greyhounds 30 defeated Riccarton Knights 16 at Wingham Park
2025 CRL ISC SPORTS CANTERBURY CUP PREMIER RESERVES – ROUND 2 RESULTS
Linwood Keas 34-20 Halswell Hornets at Linwood Park
Hornby Panthers 22-22 Eastern Eagles at Leslie Park
Greymouth Greyhounds 24-32 Papanui Tigers at Wingham Park
2025 CRL DIVISION ONE – ROUND 2 RESULTS
Riccarton Knights 18-56 Shirley Hawks at Crosbie Park
Celebration Lions 44-24 Halswell Hornets at Cuthberts Green
Northern Bulldogs 16-40 Burnham Chevaliers at Murphy Park
Addington Magpies 26-30 Eastern Eagles at Spreydon Domain
