CRL ROUND 12 CLUB PREVIEW: THACKER SHIELD, FINALS SPOTS ON THE LINE IN ROUND 12
The 2025 CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership playoffs race is going down to the wire – and Saturday’s fixtures at Leslie Park, Crosbie Park and Linwood Park will all have major ramifications for the make-up of the Massetti Cup ladder.
Hornby Panthers and Halswell Hornets meet in the third westside derby and grand final rematch of 2025, with both sides looking to bounce back from losses last weekend – the fourth-placed Panthers to Riccarton Knight (16-14) and the second-placed Hornets to Greymouth Greyhounds (12-6).
The ledger is square between the archrivals so far this season: Hornby won 22-6 at Halswell Domain, while Halswell knocked over the defending premiers 17-10 on the road.
The Knights will aim to continue their push for a top-two finish at home against Eastern Eagles, whose finals hopes are hanging by a thread after a 42-10 loss to Linwood Keas last week.
The Eagles managed a 14-all draw at Crosbie Park mid-season, while the Knights won their opening-round clash 24-12.
With the Massetti Cup all but wrapped up, the Keas host an eager and buoyant Greyhounds outfit in a Thacker Shield showdown. The Greyhounds are looking to make it two away wins on the trot – and stay in the hunt for a playoffs spot – after getting off the mark road-wise at Halswell Domain last week.
Greymouth pulled off a momentous 20-14 win over Linwood at Wingham Park in Round 1, before the Keas turned the tables 24-14 at home five weeks later.
The CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership Round 12 clashes get underway at 2.45pm.
CRL ROUND 11 CLUB PREVIEW: CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMING & GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP RIVALS JOSTLE FOR POSITION
All three corresponding CRL ISC Sports Canterbury Cup matches kick off at the same grounds at 1pm, with Papanui Tigers needing a win over defending champs the Eagles to stay in the finals mix, and the fourth-placed Panthers looking to close the gap on the third-placed Hornets.
The CRL Division One schedule is headlined by a clash between second-placed Shirley Hawks and third-placed defending champs Northern Bulldogs at Macfarlane Park.
Eastern Eagles and Halswell Hornets square off at Wainoni Park, Burnham Chevaliers host runaway leaders Celebrations Lions at Coronation Park and Riccarton Knights and Addington Magpies lock horns at Papanui Domain.
All four Div One fixtures get underway at 1pm.
The CRL Bartercard Women’s Premiership action on Sunday sees Eastern Eagles host Hornby Panthers at Wainoni Park, Linwood Keas welcome Woolston Rams to Linwood Park and Shirley Hawks face up to a tough home assignment against defending champs Sydenham Swans at Macfarlane Park.
All three matches kick off at 1pm.
