CRL ROUND 10 CLUB WRAP: KEAS AND HORNETS BREAK CLEAR ON WILD WEEKEND

Linwood Keas and Halswell Hornets have made a break on the Massetti Cup field after dramatic Saturday afternoon of CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership action, while Greymouth Greyhounds snapped a win drought in convincing style on the West Coast.

A remarkable second-half comeback carried the ladder-leading Keas to a 28-18 victory over Hornby Panthers at Leslie Park.

The Panthers led 18-0 at halftime, but the Keas rallied with six unanswered tries after the break – including a five-minute double to winger Alofa Faaiva – and effectively sealed the result when Sakiusa Lomanikaya crossed with five minutes remaining.

The defending champs have now lost four matches on the trot as they prepare to head to the West Coast on Friday to play their postponed Round 9 fixture against Greymouth Greyhounds, who carved out a 38-18 result at the expense Eastern Eagles at Wingham Park yesterday.

The match was evenly poised at 10-6 in the Greyhounds’ favour at halftime, but the hosts dominated the second stanza by scoring five tries to one – including a second try for halfback Jordan Campbell.

The Greyhounds and Panthers are tied for fourth spot, emphasising the importance of next week’s catch-up clash.

Halswell Hornets outlasted Riccarton Knights 28-24 in a wildly fluctuating encounter at Crosbie Park.

A 14-point first-half haul from Jacob Nyman – including two tries – powered the Hornets to an 18-4 halftime lead, but the Knights ran in four unanswered tries, with Matariri Halbert-Pere dotting down twice, to hit the front 22-18.

Regan Robson-Kahn’s try put the visitors back in front, before a Knights penalty goal squared it up at 24-all. Hornets second-rower Dallas Hurrell-Jones crossed for the match-winner in the 68th minute.

The nail-biter saw the second-placed Hornets open up a three-point gap on the third-placed Knights.

Linwood Keas retained the competition lead in the CRL ISC Sports Canterbury Cup with a convincing 38-6 win over Hornby Panthers, staying one point ahead of defending champs Eastern Eagles, who overcame Greymouth Greyhounds 50-28 at Wingham Park.

Halswell Hornets consolidated third spot with a 44-14 defeat of Papanui Tigers at Crosbie Park.

Celebration Lions’ unbeaten rampage through the 2025 CRL Division One competition continued with a 58-6 win over Addington Magpies, while second-placed Shirley Hawks’ 22-16 victory against Eastern Eagles allowed Northern Bulldogs to climb to third with a 28-16 defeat of Halswell Hornets.

Riccarton Knights stayed in the mix for a Division One playoffs spot by edging out Burnham Chevaliers 20-16.

In Sunday’s CRL Bartercard Women’s Premiership matches, Linwood Keas avenged their 2024 preliminary final loss to Hornby Panthers with a 24-14 victory at Leslie Park.

Ahead just 6-4 at halftime, the Keas powered to the win on the back of a second-half double from Lialanie Muamua.

Former Kiwi Ferns prop Bunty Kuruwaka-Crowe bagged a hat-trick and gun playmaker Kyla Lynch-Brown scored two tries in Sydenham Swans’ 42-14 win over Woolston Rams, while Eastern Eagles overwhelmed Shirley Hawks 60-0 with Karereatua Williams crossing for three tries.

CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMBING AND GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 10 RESULTS

Halswell Hornets 28 defeated Riccarton Knights 24 at Crosbie Park
Linwood Keas 28 defeated Hornby Panthers 18 at Linwood Park
Greymouth Greyhounds 38 defeated Eastern Eagles 18 at Wingham Park

CRL ISC SPORTS CANTERBURY CUP – ROUND 10 RESULTS

Halswell Hornets 44 defeated Papanui Tigers 14 at Crosbie Park
Linwood Keas 38 defeated Hornby Panthers 6 at Linwood Park
Eastern Eagles 50 defeated Greymouth Greyhounds 28 at Wingham Park

CRL DIVISION ONE – ROUND 10 RESULTS

Riccarton Knights 20 defeated Burnham Chevaliers 16 at Crosbie Park
Northern Bulldogs 28 defeated Halswell Hornets 16 at Murphy Park
Shirley Hawks 22 defeated Eastern Eagles 16 at Macfarlane Park
Celebration Lions 58 defeated Addington Magpies 6 at Spreydon Domain

CRL BARTERCARD WOMEN’S PREMIERHSIP – ROUND 6 RESULTS

Eastern Eagles 60 defeated Shirley Hawks 0 at Macfarlane Park
Sydenham Swans 42 defeated Woolston Rams 14 at Woolston Park
Linwood Keas 24 defeated Hornby Panthers 14 at Leslie Park

Photo credit: Abraham Atherton Photography