CRL Finals Week 1 Wrap: Eagles clinch historic grand final spot, Knights live to fight another day
Eastern Eagles powered to a historic Pat Smith Trophy Challenge grand final berth, while Riccarton Knights grafted out a sudden-death victory on the opening week of the CRL Whitehead Plumbing and Gas Men’s Premiership finals.
The Eagles will feature in n the grand final for the first time since Eastern Suburbs’ 1979-81 premiership threepeat, courtesy of a stunning 32-22 victory over undefeated defending champs Linwood Keas in the major semi.
Brimming with confidence after their 30-all draw with the all-conquering Keas at Linwood Park a week earlier, the Eagles set the tone with an early try to second-rower Peneli Peneli.
Winger Mita Maamaloa grabbed an eight-minute double, before centre D’Angelo Tauti scored just before and just after halftime. When veteran forward Cyrus Timo-Latu crossed in the 53rd minute, the Eagles had opened up a phenomenal 30-0 scoreline.
As they did in Round 14 – when they posted three late tries to erase an 18-point deficit to earn a draw – the Keas came home with a wet sail. Two tries to Puia’i Graeme Patu-Vaega’au either side of Ezekiel Ieti’s four-pointer cut the deficit to 12 points with 15 minutes left.
But the Eagles regained their footing to close out the match, adding a penalty goal before Keas winger Julius Mumuta’s late consolation try.
Linwood will now host a preliminary final showdown with its 2025 grand final adversary Riccarton, after the Knights subdued plucky Greymouth Greyhounds 20-4 in the elimination semi at Crosbie Park.
A tense first half finished 6-4 in the Knights’ favour, with second-rower Joel Leka dotting down early for the home side and Greyhounds winger Jeremiah Lesoa striking back at the half-hour mark.
The Knights were quick out of the blocks again in the second stanza and posted a crucial try to winger Ihaka Abraham. A Jimmy Wihongi penalty goal gave them further breathing space, before five-eighth Sincere Harraway’s match-sealing try with 12 minutes to go.
CRL Snap Fitness Grand Final Day is set down for Ngā Puna Wai on Sunday, August 9.
CRL Sidekick Chartered Accountants Canterbury Cup Conference League table toppers Linwood Keas will take on Halswell Hornets’ Premier Reserves side and CRL Division One leaders Northern Bulldogs will host Eastern Eagles Premier Reserves outfit in next week’s Canterbury Cup grand final qualifiers.
The Hornets, third in the CRL Sidekick Chartered Accountants Canterbury Cup Conference League, overwhelmed Linwood Keas’ CRL Division One side 60-6 in Saturday’s semi with Kaea Katene racking up 20 points from a try and six goals.
The other semi was an all-Eastern Eagles affair, with their two-time defending Canterbury Cup champion Premier Reserves line-up defeating their Division One side 72-16. Centre Jerome Taefu and five-eighth Alesana Taefu scored four tries apiece.
CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMBING AND GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
Eastern Eagles 32 (Mita Maamaloa 2, D’Angelo Tauti, Peneli Peneli, Cyrus Timo-Latu tries; Henare Kahukiwa 3, Klayton Waikato goals) defeated Linwood Keas 22 (Puia’i Graeme Patu-Vaega’au 2, Ezekiel Ieti, Julius Mumuta tries; Thomas Ruwhiu 3 goals) at Linwood Park
Riccarton Knights 20 (Joel Leka, Ihaka Abraham, Sincere Harraway tries; Jimmy Wihongi 3, Tristan Griffiths goals) defeated Greymouth Greyhounds 4 (Jeremiah Lesoa try) at Crosbie Park
CRL SIDEKICK CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS CANTERBURY CUP CONFERENCE LEAGUE – SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
Halswell Hornets (Prem Res) 60 defeated Linwood Keas (Div One) 6 at Linwood Park
Eastern Eagles (Prem Res) 72 defeated Eastern Eagles (Div One) 16 at Wainoni Park
