CRL ROUND 9 CLUB PREVIEW: KNIGHTS, GREYHOUNDS LOOK TO LEAPFROG OPPONENTS
Following the King’s Birthday weekend break, the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership resumes with three massive Round 9 clashes at Halswell Domain, Linwood Park and Wingham Park.
With five rounds remaining, every team remains in finals contention and the race for the Massetti Cup as minor premiers is incredibly tight.
Halswell Hornets, riding a five-match winning streak to grab an equal share of the competition lead, host bottom-placed Eastern Eagles.
The Hornets came away from a Greymouth road trip with an 18-14 win in Round 8, while the Eagles are aiming to bounce back from a 36-6 derby loss to Linwood Keas. The teams’ Round 4 encounter at Wainoni Park resulted in a hard-fought 24-16 win for the Hornets, with Hayden Thompson bagging a first-half double.
Meanwhile, Riccarton Knights can leapfrog the ladder-leading Keas with a crosstown victory. Linwood prevailed 34-18 at Crosbie Park earlier this season, but Riccarton is unbeaten since – including a second 2025 win over defending champs Hornby in Round 8.
The Thacker Shield – which the Keas lifted from the Knights – is also on the line this weekend.
The Panthers make the trek to the West Coast under some pressure after three straight losses to the Hornets, Eagles and Knights. The Greyhounds – themselves on a five-match losing run – can join the Panthers in a share of fourth spot with a victory in front of the Wingham Park faithful.
The clubs’ Round 4 showdown at Leslie Park finished 22-18 in Hornby’s favour.
CRL ROUND 8 CLUB WRAP: CRUCIAL WINS FOR HORNETS, KEAS AND KNIGHTS
All three CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership fixtures kick off at 2.45pm on Saturday, preceded by the corresponding CRL ISC Sports Canterbury Cup matches at the same venues at 1pm.
Linwood Keas are striving to hold onto their one-point competition lead when they host a Papanui Tigers premiers reserves side that has won its last two matches.
In CRL Division One action, high-flying teams Celebration Lions and Shirley Hawks are at home against Halswell Hornets and Riccarton Knights, respectively, and Burnham Chevaliers host Northern Bulldogs – all kicking off at 1pm – while Eastern Eagles and Addington Magpies square off at Wainoni Park at 2.45pm.
Sunday’s CRL Bartercard Women’s Premiership schedule is headlined by Hornby Panthers’ clash with Woolston Rams at Leslie Park, with both sides part of a three-team logjam tied for second.
Elsewhere, Shirley Hawks face a tough road trip against unbeaten Linwood Keas, while Eastern Eagles host defending champs Sydenham Swans. All three matches get underway at 1pm.
Photo credit: Kirsty Wilson Photography
