CRL ROUND 6 CLUB WRAP: KEAS TAKE OUTRIGHT LEAD, EAGLES SECURE FIRST POINT IN STUNNING COMEBACK
Linwood Keas have gone clear at the top of the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership after a successful Thacker Shield defence amid a thrilling round of matches, while a trio of 2024 heavyweights kicked off the CRL Bartercard Women’s Premiership in style.
Linwood fought back from a halftime deficit to subdue Greymouth 24-14 and retain the Thacker Shield.
The Greyhounds led 8-0 during the first half after a try to winger Navare Jacobs, but Keas veteran Danny Samuela-Latu responded for an 8-4 scoreline at the break. The Keas ran in another three unanswered tries before Jacobs crossed for his second to give the Greyhounds a late glimmer, but Michael Nicholls-Cane sealed the result for the hosts with a try in the dying stages.
The result would have been especially satisfying for Linwood after being rolled at Wingham Park in Round 1.
Another team to turn the tables on an opening-round opponent, Halswell Hornets snared a 17-10 victory over Hornby Panthers at Leslie Park in the second grand final rematch of the season.
The Hornets scored four tries to two, edging out from a slender 12-10 halftime advantage with a try to stalwart centre Nick Evans and a match-sealing field goal to fullback Ken Tofilau, who had opened the scoring with a try in the fifth minute.
Eastern Eagles produced a superb second-half comeback to earn their first competition point of the season, earning a 14-all draw on the road against Riccarton Knights.
The Knights led 6-0 at halftime and were up by 14 with half an hour to play. But the Eagles rallied and tries inside the last 10 minutes to Hoani Stewart and Uale Peneli squared up the scoreboard in a Crosbie Park barnburner.
Last year’s grand finalists got their 2025 CRL Bartercard Women’s Premiership campaigns underway with big wins on Sunday after last weekend’s opening round was washed out.
Defending champs Sydenham Swans overwhelmed competition newcomers Shirley Hawks 60-0 at Macfarlane Park, with Winnie Palamo scoring four tries and Caitlin Sears racking up 18 points (two tries, five goals).
Meanwhile, 2024 runners-up Hornby Panthers powered to a 36-4 win over Eastern Eagles at Leslie Park with Moira Fetu scoring a first-half double.
Linwood Keas, the 2022-23 premiers, resisted a stiff challenge from Woolston Rams, turning an 18-10 halftime scoreline into a 40-20 victory at Linwood Park.
In CRL ISC Sports Canterbury Cup action, Linwood Keas remain unbeaten at the top of the table following a 50-12 victory over Greymouth Greyhounds, while defending champs Eastern Eagles defeated Papanui Tigers 32-12 and Hornby Panthers outlasted Halswell Hornets 26-18.
Undefeated Celebration Lions surged further ahead in CRL Division One by inflicting Shirley Hawks’ first loss of 2025 in an emphatic 42-10 result. Burnham Chevaliers, Northern Bulldogs and Halswell Hornets also picked up Round 6 wins.
CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMBING & GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 6 RESULTS
Linwood Keas 24 (Danny Samuela-Latu, Chanel Feala, Alofa Faaiva, Daniel Hartley, Michael Nicholls-Cane tries; Ketesemane Pouli, Malyche Tafili goals) defeated Greymouth Greyhounds 14 (Navare Jacobs 2 tries; Mac Gibson 3 goals) at Linwood Park
Halswell Hornets 17 (Ken Tofilau, Roan Brown, Josh Everett, Nicholas Evans tries; Tofilau field goal) defeated Hornby Panthers 10 (Maddox Wright, Bono Napota tries; Nathaniel Tirikatene goal) at Leslie Park
Riccarton Knights 14 (Arlan Pere Perez, Kolio Vailuu tries; Jimmy Wihongi 3 goals) drew with Eastern Eagles 14 (Mita Maamaloa, Hoani Stewart, Uale Peneli tries; Taniela Leka goal) at Crosbie Park
CRL ISC SPORTS CANTERBURY CUP – ROUND 6 RESULTS
Hornby Panthers 26 defeated Halswell Hornets 18 at Leslie Park
Eastern Eagles 32 defeated Papanui Tigers 12 at Crosbie Park
Linwood Keas 50 defeated Greymouth Greyhounds at Linwood Park
CRL DIVISION ONE – ROUND 6 RESULTS
Halswell Hornets 24 defeated Riccarton Knights 22 at Crosbie Park
Burnham Chevaliers 30 defeated Eastern Eagles at Wainoni Park
Celebration Lions 42 defeated Shirley Hawks 10 at Macfarlane Park
Northern Bulldogs 24 defeated Addington Magpies 20 at Spreydon Domain
CRL BARTERCARD WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 2 RESULTS
