CRL ROUND 8 CLUB WRAP: CRUCIAL WINS FOR HORNETS, KEAS AND KNIGHTS
Linwood Keas and Halswell Hornets retained a share of top spot in the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership, while third-placed Riccarton Knights opened up a handy buffer on the bottom half of the competition after the trio grabbed Round 8 victories.
The Hornets became the first team in 2025 to come away from a Greymouth road trip with a win, outlasting the Greyhounds 18-14 at Wingham Park.
The visitors scored four unanswered tries to lead 18-0 at the break, but the plucky Greyhounds rallied with three tries after the break to set up a grandstand finish. The Hornets have now won five straight, while the Greyhounds are on a five-match losing streak.
The Knights backed up their Round 3 upset at Leslie Park with another victory over defending champions Hornby Panthers at Papanui Domain.
Riccarton was up 10-6 at halftime and took a commanding 20-point lead with a three-try surge early in the second stanza, but Hornby rallied with three converted tries before falling just short 28-24.
The Keas bounced back from last week’s loss to the Hornets with a comprehensive 36-6 defeat of Eastern Eagles at Wainoni Park.
Alofa Faaiva scored three of Linwood’s seven tries. To their credit, the last-placed Eagles stemmed the flow of points after trailing 24-0 at halftime and belatedly got on the board through Hoani Stewart in the dying minutes.
Papanui Tigers celebrated their Club Day with a 20-6 win over Hornby Panthers in the CRL ISC Sports Canterbury Cup.
In other premier reserves action, Halswell Hornets defeated Greymouth Greyhounds 42-14 on the West Coast, while defending champs Eastern Eagles and ladder leaders Linwood Keas drew 16-all.
In CRL Division One, Celebration Lions made it seven from seven via 46-12 win over defending champs Northern Bulldogs, while second-placed Shirley Hawks opened up a handy buffer with a 36-30 defeat of third-placed Burnham Chevaliers.
Eastern Eagles beat Riccarton Knights 28-16, while the Hornets collected their first Div 1 win of the season 40-28 over Addington Magpies.
The CRL Bartercard Women’s Premiership was headlined by the first 2024 grand final rematch of the season, which Sydenham Swans won 34-30 over Hornby Panthers in a barnburner at Leslie Park.
Swans half Kyla Lynch-Brown inspired the defending champs with a hat-trick of tries, while winger Celine Russell and lock Ripena Umaga both picked up doubles for the Panthers.
Meanwhile, Linwood Keas remained unbeaten with a 60-0 win over Eastern Eagles and Woolston Rams overwhelmed Shirley Hawks 52-0.
CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMBING AND GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 8 RESULTS
Halswell Hornets 18 defeated Greymouth Greyhounds 14 at Wingham Park
Linwood Keas 36 defeated Eastern Eagles 6 at Wainoni Park
Riccarton Knights 28 defeated Hornby Panthers 24 at Papanui Domain
CRL ISC SPORTS CANTERBURY CUP – ROUND 8 RESULTS
CRL DIVISION ONE – ROUND 8 RESULTS
CRL BARTERCARD WOMEN’S PREMIERHSIP – ROUND 4 RESULTS
Linwood Keas 60 defeated Eastern Eagles 0 at Wainoni Park
Sydenham Swans 34 defeated Hornby Panthers 30 at Leslie Park
Woolston Rams 52 defeated Shirley Hawks 0 at Woolston Park
Main image credit: Abraham Atherton Photography
