TRILLO METALS CANTERBURY BULLS TEAMS SEARCHING FOR DOUBLE-HEADER DUBS IN WELLINGTON

Both Trillo Metals Canterbury Bulls squads head to the capital on Saturday for a double-header against Wellington Orcas.

For the Trillo Metals Women’s Canterbury Bulls, it’s an opportunity to finish an NZRL National Women’s Premiership campaign of momentous progress with a flourish.

The undefeated Trillo Metals Men’s Canterbury Bulls, meanwhile, are aiming to seal a place in next weekend’s NZRL National Men’s Premiership final against the winners of the northern section.

After getting out to an early 10-0 lead, the Trillo Metals Women’s Canterbury Bulls’ valiant bid to stay in the hunt for a place in the final came unstuck via a 44-14 loss to a classy Counties Manukau Stingrays outfit at Ngā Puna Wai last Saturday.

TRILLO METALS CANTERBURY BULLS DOUBLE-HEADER GARNERS A WIN AND A LOSS

But Joseph Purcell-Mika’s side will be fired up to clinch a much-deserved third-place finish with a victory over the winless Orcas, have already chalked up big wins over Auckland Vulcans and Waikato at home after a narrow first-up loss on the road to defending champs Akarana Falcons.

The Trillo Metals Men’s Canterbury Bulls carved out a pivotal 30-20 win over visiting Otago Whalers in the first half of the Ngā Puna Wai double-header.

Boasting a two-point buffer on the Orcas and Whalers, a win in Wellington will automatically send the them into the October 11 decider in Auckland. A loss to the Orcas by 12 points or less would also be enough for the Trillo Metals Men’s Canterbury Bulls to get through on points differential – provided the Whalers did not overturn the for-and-against gap between the rivals (which currently stands at 50 points) when they host Southland Rams in their final-round derby.

But Walt Wilson’s team will be hellbent on controlling their own destiny – and maintaining their current momentum – by accounting for the Orcas, who they defeated 36-22 in the second-tier National Championship final at Ngā Puna Wai in 2024.

SECOND-HALF SURGE LIFTS TRILLO METALS CANTERBURY BULLS TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Besides a place in the 2025 decider, two prizes are up for grabs between the provinces: the Centenary Shield and the Adrian Shelford Memorial Cup

Both regions’ rugby league bodies were founded in 1912. Wellington had played provincial matches in the four seasons prior but travelled to Christchurch to play in Canterbury’s inaugural match that year, winning 5-4 at Addington Showgrounds.

The Centenary Shield was introduced in 2013 and played for between the same teams on the same patch of dirt, then known as AMI Stadium. Canterbury’s 100-year celebrations culminated in a 34-24 win over the Orcas for the Mike Dorreen-coached Bulls. Wellington is striving to take possession of the Centenary Shield for the first time since a home win later in 2013.

The Adrian Shelford Memorial Cup is named in honour of the late, great front-rower, who represented New Zealand from both provinces during the second half of the 1980s.

A local grand final winner with Hornby Panthers and Upper Hutt Tigers, the eight-Test Kiwi later played professionally for Wigan, Newcastle, Manly, Wakefield and Sheffield. Tragically, Shelford died of a heart attack in England in 2003, aged just 39. He was a high school teacher in Wigan at the time.

The Trillo Metals Men’s Canterbury Bulls kick off against Wellington Orcas at Rugby League Park at 12pm on Saturday, while the Trillo Metals Women’s Canterbury Bulls tackle the Orcas at 2pm.

Both games will be televised live on Sky Sport channel 56.