CRL Rd 9 Wrap: Keas and Eagles tighten grip on top two spots as finals race heats up
Eastern Eagles consolidated second spot with a second-half comeback on the road, Halswell Hornets celebrated Old Boys Day with a thrilling and vital win, and Linwood Keas continued their relentless charge to the Massetti Cup in Round 9 of the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership. Meanwhile, the Keas made a grand final rematch statement in the CRL Happy Hire Women’s Premiership.
The Eagles rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit to defeat Riccarton Knights 30-24 at Crosbie Park.
The Knights took an 18-6 lead into the break after tries to Jimmy Wihongi, Jamieson Ilalio and Kolio Vailuu. But the Eagles took control in the second stanza, with Taniela Leka’s four-pointer sparking a run of four unanswered tries that gave them a 30-18 advantage with five minutes to go.
The second-placed Eagles’ victory opened up a four-point gap between them and the Knights, Hornets and Greymouth Greyhounds, who had the Round 9 bye.
In an increasingly tense race for the finals, Halswell held off a spirited Hornby Panthers outfit 34-24 for a crucial win on Old Boys Day at Halswell Domain.
The neighbouring rivals traded tries throughout the first half, before the Panthers hit the front 18-16 when Bono Napota scored just after halftime.
But Brody Greig regained the lead for the Hornets in the 55th minute and the hosts built a comfortable 34-18 scoreline with another three tries.
The Keas moved to a 7-0 record – four points clear of the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership field – courtesy of an emphatic 60-10 victory over Papanui Tigers.
The defending premiers led 22-4 at halftime at Papanui Domain, while the Tigers posted the first try of the second half. But the Keas went up a gear from that point, running in eight tries in the last 25 minutes – with second-rower Sakiusa Lomanikaya and winger Julius Mumuta completing doubles.
Grand final opponents in the past two seasons, Halswell Hornets and Eastern Eagles maintained their share of the CRL Sidekick Chartered Accountancy Canterbury Cup Conference League lead.
The Hornets defeated Hornby Panthers 24-16, while the Eagles outlasted Riccarton Knights 40-34.
Linwood Keas jumped to a share of top spot in CRL Division One thanks to a 26-18 victory over ladder-leading Northern Bulldogs in Round 8.
Eastern Eagles remain in outright third after a 36-24 defeat of Halswell Hornets and Ashburton Barbarians earned some breathing space in fourth via a 38-14 win against visiting Shirley Hawks.
Linwood Keas reversed last year’s grand final result in resounding fashion on Sunday, defeating Sydenham Swans 38-16 in Round 5 of the CRL Happy Hire Women’s Premiership.
The Keas were quick out of the block with three tries in the opening 20 minutes, but the Swans fought back to reduce the halftime damage to 22-10 at Bradford Park. The Keas posted four tries to one in the second half, however, with Metua Cranwell grabbing the last two to finish with a hat-trick.
Hornby Panthers remain unbeaten at the top of the table, overwhelming Shirley Hawks 64-4 at Macfarlane Park.
Panthers winger Anika Fouchee scored four tries in the first half and notched another in the latter stages, while Hilda Williams and Tyler Limmer both bagged doubles.
CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMBING & GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 9 RESULTS
Eastern Eagles 30 (Jerome Taefu, Taniela Leka, Henare Kahukiwa, Harold Kolose, Isaiah Smith tries; Klayton Waikato 5 goals) defeated Riccarton Knights 24 (Jimmy Wihongi, Jamieson Ilalio, Kolio Vailuu Matariri Halbert-Pere tries; Wihongi 4 goals) at Crosbie Park
Halswell Hornets 34 (Josh Everett, Hayden Thompson, Ngaheke Nepata, Cameron-Brody Greig, Ashton Clark, Roan Brown, Tommy Moriarty tries; Moriarty 3 goals) defeated Hornby Panthers 24 (Kyan Rosie, Ramsay Sula, Bono Napota, Toby Gourdie-Tapp tries; Blake English 4 goals) at Halswell Domain
Linwood Keas 60 (Sakiusa Lomanikaya 2, Julius Mumuta 2, Thomas Ruwhiu, George Faaiva, Elisara Vaifale, Genesis Ah Kam-Sherlock, Ketesemane Pouli, Graeme Patu-Vaeag’au, Xavier Talatonu, Alofa Faaiva tries; Ruwhiu 3, Malyche Tafili 2, Vaifale goals) defeated Papanui Tigers 10 (Reon Collier-Robinson, Noah Love tries; Puke Vincent goal) at Papanui Domain
CRL SIDEKICK CHARTERED ACCOUNTANCY CANTERBURY CUP CONFERENCE LEAGUE – ROUND 9 RESULTS
Halswell Hornets 24 defeated Hornby Panthers 16 at Halswell Domain
Eastern Eagles 40 defeated Riccarton Knights 34 at Crosbie Park
CRL DIVISON ONE – ROUND 8 RESULTS
Eastern Eagles 36 defeated Halswell Hornets 24 at Wainoni Park
Ashburton Barbarians 38 defeated Shirley Hawks 14 at Robilliard Park
Linwood Keas 26 defeated Northern Bulldogs 18 at Murphy Park
CRL HAPPY HIRE WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 5 RESULTS
Linwood Keas 38 defeated Sydenham Swans 16 at Bradford Park
Hornby Panthers 64 defeated Shirley Hawks 4 at Macfarlane Park
