CRL ROUND 13 CLUB WRAP: GREYHOUNDS PIP PANTHERS FOR HISTORIC FINALS SPOT

Greymouth Greyhounds have qualified for the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership finals series in just their second season in the top grade – at the expense of defending champs Hornby Panthers in a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 Massetti Cup. 

The Greyhounds did their part in the final regular season round by overwhelming bottom-placed Eastern Eagles 40-24 at Wainoni Park.

The West Coasters powered to a 26-6 halftime lead on the back of doubles to centre Navare Jacobs and halfback Payton Guthrie, who both completed hat-tricks before the hour mark.

Greymouth still required Hornby to lose to Linwood by a margin of 15 points or more to jump into fourth place – and the Keas obliged with a 34-12 result at Linwood Park.

The runaway competition leaders got out to a 20-6 advantage at the break with prolific tryscoring winger Alofa Faaiva grabbing a double. The Keas added three more tries in the second half – including a second to their other winger, Elisara Vaifale – to seal the Panthers’ fate.

Linwood also successfully retained the Thacker Shield for the summer.

Meanwhile, Halswell Hornets claimed a crucial 10-9 win over Riccarton Knights at Halswell Domain to snatch second spot on the table and two bites at the grand final cherry.

Tries to Tristan Griffith and Joel Leka gave the Knights an 8-4 halftime lead after Caleb Scott had opened the scoring for the Hornets. Roan Brown’s try levelled up the match, before Jimmy Wihongi inched the Knights back in front with a field goal. But Jacob Nyman’s penalty goal in the 73rd minute was enough for the Hornets to leapfrog the Knights on the scoreboard and the ladder.

The Keas and Hornets will square off at Linwood Park for the first spot in the 2025 CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership grand final, while the Knights and Greyhounds lock horns at Crosbie Park in the elimination semi.

Linwood also topped the standings in the CRL ISC Sports Canterbury Cup and finished their home-and-away campaign with a 22-20 eclipse of fourth-placed Hornby. The Keas will line up this week against defending champs Eastern Eagles, who earned a resounding 62-16 win over Greymouth Greyhounds to seal second spot.

Third-placed Halswell Hornets defeated Papanui Tigers 58-20 in their last regular season assignment and will host the Panthers in Saturday’s elimination semi.

Celebration Lions’ undefeated march through the 2025 CRL Division One season continued in the penultimate round with a 48-16 statement win over second-placed Shirley Hawks.

A narrow 18-16 over Addington Magpies allowed Northern Bulldogs to retain third spot ahead of Eastern Eagles, who sealed the make-up of the finals quartet with a 32-22 defeat of fifth-placed Burnham Chevaliers. Bottom-placed Halswell Hornets beat Riccarton Knights 46-26.

Hornby Panthers have shaken things up in the second-last round of the CRL Bartercard Women’s Premiership, defeating defending champs Sydenham Swans 30-22 and moving into second on the ladder.

The Swans led 22-10 after the teams were locked 10-all at halftime, but the Panthers piled on four unanswered tries to take the result at Leslie Park.

Lialanie Muamua scored four tries as Linwood Keas stayed in top spot with a 62-0 defeat of Eastern Eagles, while Woolston Rams sealed fourth place with a 60-0 win over Shirley Hawks – with Shade McGregor-Pakau and Jury Tipa-Tuhura both scoring hat-tricks and Bayli Rapira racking up 20 points.

CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMBING & GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 13 RESULTS

Linwood Keas 34 defeated Hornby Panthers 12 at Linwood Park
Greymouth Greyhounds 40 defeated Eastern Eagles 24 at Wainoni Park
Halswell Hornets 10 defeated Riccarton Knights 9 at Halswell Domain

CRL ISC SPORTS CANTERBURY CUP PREMIER RESERVES – ROUND 13 RESULTS

Linwood Keas 22 defeated Hornby Panthers 20 at Linwood Park
Eastern Eagles 62 defeated Greymouth Greyhounds 16 at Wainoni Park
Halswell Hornets 58 defeated Papanui Tigers 20 at Halswell Domain

CRL DIVISION ONE – ROUND 13 RESULTS

Northern Bulldogs 18 defeated Addington Magpies at Murphy Park
Celebration Lions 48 defeated Shirley Hawks 16 at Cuthberts Green
Halswell Hornets 46 defeated Riccarton Knights 26 at Halswell Domain
Eastern Eagles 32 defeated Burnham Chevaliers 22 at Coronation Park

CRL BARTERCARD WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 9 RESULTS

Linwood Keas 62 defeated Eastern Eagles 0 at Wainoni Park
Hornby Panthers 30 defeated Sydenham Swans 22 at Leslie Park
Woolston Rams 60 defeated Shirley Hawks 0 at Macfarlane Park

Photo Credit: Abraham Atherton Photography