CRL ROUND 9 CLUB WRAP: KEAS GO CLEAR AS EAGLES ROLL HORNETS
Winter conditions restricted the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership Round 9 schedule to two matches – but there was no shortage of low-scoring drama amid the chill at Halswell Domain and Linwood Park.
Hornby Panthers’ trip to the West Coast to take on Greymouth Greyhounds was cancelled due to road conditions on Arthur’s Pass, with a call regarding the fixture’s rescheduling to come.
On this side of the Southern Alps, Eastern Eagles climbed off the bottom rung of the Massetti Cup ladder via their second win of the season – a 12-10 away victory over a Halswell Hornets outfit that had won their last five games.
The Eagles did all their scoreboard damage in the opening 20 minutes, with Taniela Leka and Leo Petelo scoring tries for a 12-0 lead. The Hornets hit back through Dallas Hurrell-Jones late in the first half and Nicholas Evans’ unconverted try deep into the second stanza set up a tense finished, but the Eagles hung on for a recent quinella of wins over both of 2024’s grand finalists.
The Hornets’ defeat allowed Linwood Keas to reclaim the outright competition lead – and retain the Thacker Shield – courtesy of a 14-6 arm-wrestle over Riccarton Knights at home.
Wingers Alofa Faaiva and Julius Mumuta dotted down early for the Keas, but the in-form Knights trimmed the halftime deficit to just two points after lock Jimmy Rangiawha converted his own try.
Jochden Filimoehala came off the bench to score the only try of the second half for Linwood, however, and the perennial heavyweights closed out a key result.
Linwood Keas also retained their lead in the CRL ISC Sports Canterbury Cup by defeating Papanui Tigers – who had won their last two – 36-20 at Linwood Park.
Defending champs Eastern Eagles stayed just one point behind the Keas and opened up a four-point gap to the chasing pack courtesy of an 18-12 victory in their grand final rematch with Halswell Hornets.
Celebration Lions remain undefeated in CRL Division One, defeating Halswell Hornets 38-14 on Saturday, while Shirley Hawks downed Riccarton Knights 28-16 to stay well clear in second spot.
Eastern Eagles (14-6 v Addington) and Northern Bulldogs (20-16 Burnham) recorded crucial wins in their respective pursuits of a top-four finish.
Linwood Keas and Hornby Panthers produced dominant performances in Round 5 of the CRL Bartercard Women’s Premiership, carving out big wins over Shirley Hawks and Woolston Rams, respectively by identical 60-0 scorelines.
Winger Malaika Lilii-Tiwa scored three of the Keas’ 12 tries, while Celine Russell, Leah Stewart and Tyler Limmer all collected doubles for the Panthers.
Defending champs Sydenham Swans grafted out a 22-10 win over Eastern Eagles, with former Kiwi Fern Bunty Kuruwaka-Crowe and star half Kyla Lynch-Brown among their tryscorers.
CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMBING & GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 9 RESULTS
Eastern Eagles 12 defeated Halswell Hornets 10 at Halswell Domain
Linwood Keas 14 defeated Riccarton Knights 6 at Linwood Park
CRL ISC SPORTS CANTERBURY CUP PREMIER RESERVES – ROUND 9 RESULTS
Eastern Eagles 18 defeated Halswell Hornets 12 at Halswell Domain
Linwood Keas 36 defeated Papanui Tigers 20 at Linwood Park
CRL DIVISION ONE – ROUND 9 RESULTS
Shirley Hawks 28 defeated Riccarton Knights 16 at Macfarlane Park
Celebration Lions 38 defeated Halswell Hornets 14 at Cuthberts Green
Northern Bulldogs 20 defeated Burnham Chevaliers 16 at Coronation Park
Eastern Eagles 14 defeated Addington Magpies 6 at Wainoni Park
CRL BARTERCARD WOMEN’S PRMEIERSHIP – ROUND 5 RESULTS
Sydenham Swans 22 defeated Eastern Eagles 10 at Wainoni Park
Linwood Keas 60 defeated Shirley Hawks 0 at Linwood Park
Hornby Panthers 60 defeated Woolston Rams 0 at Leslie Park
Photo Credit: Abraham Atherton Photography
