CRL ROUND 11 CLUB WRAP: KEAS PUSH CLEAR AS 2024 GRAND FINALISTS BOTH GO DOWN
Linwood Keas extended their lead at the top of the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership standings with a big win in Round 11, but the battle for second and fourth spots tightened up after the 2024 grand finalists went down in low-scoring cliffhangers at Halswell Domain and Crosbie Park.
Linwood powered to a 42-10 derby win over last-placed Eastern Eagles at Wainoni Park, going on with the job after leading 22-4 at halftime.
Winger Julius Mumuta finished with a hat-trick for the Keas, who kicked four points clear of the field following Halswell Hornets’ 12-6 defeat at home to Greymouth Greyhounds.
Thwarting the Hornets in the last fixture of their Club Day, the Greyhounds fought back to an 8-6 halftime advantage and posted the only points of the second stanza through hooker Douglas Talavou’s second try.
The Greyhounds’ first away win of 2025 saw them join Hornby Panthers in a share of fourth spot on eight competition points.
Riccarton Knights, meanwhile, closed to within a point of the second-placed Hornets after making it a regular-season cleansweep of the Panthers, edging the defending champs 16-14.
There were five lead changes, with the Panthers ahead 6-4 at the break before tries to Matariri Halbert-Pere and Jimmy Rangiawha got the Knights over the line.
Linwood Keas won their top-of-the-table CRL ISC Sports Canterbury Cup clash with defending champs Eastern Eagles 32-16, pushing three points clear in top spot.
Hornby Panthers defeated Papanui Tigers 32-20 to put one had on a finals spot and Halswell Hornets consolidated third place with a 22-10 win over Greymouth Greyhounds.
In CRL Division One, Celebration Lions’ march to the minor premiership continued with a 38-20 win over Riccarton Knights, while second-placed Shirley Hawks suffered a 42-22 loss at Halswell.
Defending champs Northern Bulldogs’ revival rolled on with a 24-16 defeat of Eastern Eagles and Addington Magpies bagged an 18-12 home win against Burnham Chevaliers.
Sunday CRL Bartercard Women’s Premiership triple-header at Woolston Park produced plenty of points and some crucial results.
Woolston Rams powered to a 28-4 win over Eastern Eagles in the opening clash, before Hornby Panthers stayed in outright third with a 62-0 rout of Shirley Hawks with Tyler Limmer notching a second-half hat-trick.
In the final fixture, Sydenham Swans overwhelmed competition-leading Linwood Keas 36-20 on the back of four unanswered tries that gave the 2024 premiers a 26-6 halftime lead. The Keas and Swans are now locked together in a share of first place on 10 points.
CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMBING & GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 11 RESULTS
Greymouth Greyhounds 12 defeated Halswell Hornets 6 at Halswell Domain
Linwood Keas 42 defeated Eastern Eagles 10 at Wainoni Park
Riccarton Knights 16 defeated Hornby Panthers 14 at Crosbie Park
CRL ISC SPORTS CANTERBURY CUP PREMIER RESERVES – ROUND 11 RESULTS
Halswell Hornets 22 defeated Greymouth Greyhounds 10 at Halswell Domain
Linwood Keas 32 defeated Eastern Eagles 16 at Wainoni Park
Hornby Panthers 32 defeated Papanui Tigers 20 at Crosbie Park
CRL DIVISION ONE – ROUND 11 RESULTS
Celebrations Lions 38 defeated Riccarton Knights 20 at Cuthberts Green
Northern Bulldogs 24 defeated Eastern Eagles 16 at Wainoni Park
Halswell Hornets 42 defeated Shirley Hawks 22 at Halswell Domain
Addington Magpies 18 defeated Burnham Chevaliers 12 at Spreydon Domain
CRL BARTERCARD WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP
Woolston Rams 28 defeated Eastern Eagles 4 at Woolston Park
Hornby Panthers 62 defeated Shirley Hawks 0 at Woolston Park
Sydenham Swans 36 defeated Linwood Keas 20 at Woolston Park
Photo credit: Abraham Atherton Photography
