CRL ROUND 8 CLUB WRAP: CRUCIAL WINS FOR HORNETS, KEAS AND KNIGHTS

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

 Halswell Hornets 42 defeated Greymouth Greyhounds 14 at Wingham Park
Eastern Eagles 16 drew with Linwood Keas 16 at Wainoni Park
Papanui Tigers 20 defeated Hornby Panthers 6 at Papanui Domain

 

CRL DIVISION ONE – ROUND 8 RESULTS

Celebration Lions 46 defeated Northern Bulldogs 12 at Cuthberts Green
Eastern Eagles 28 defeated Riccarton Knights 16 at Wainoni Park
Shirley Hawks 36 defeated Burnham Chevaliers 30 at Macfarlane Park
Halswell Hornets 40 defeated Addington Magpies 28 at Halswell Hornets

 

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

Saki Loma on his way to the try line.
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