CRL Finals Week 2 Preview: Keas and Knights vie for grand final spot

Last year’s Pat Smith Trophy Challenge combatants, Linwood Keas and Riccarton Knights, square off in Saturday’s CRL Whitehead Plumbing and Gas Men’s Premiership preliminary final for the right to join Eastern Eagles on the 2026 CRL Snap Fitness Grand Final Day.

After going through the regular season undefeated, the Keas were ambushed in last weekend’s major semi at Linwood Park by the Eagles, who powered to a 30-0 lead after 55 minutes.

The defending champs rallied to eventually go down 32-22 – but it was nevertheless an unexpected speedbump in Linwood’s pursuit of an 11th grand final appearance in 12 seasons.

The third-placed Knights subdued Greymouth Greyhounds 20-4 in the Crosbie Park-hosted elimination final, dominating the second half after holding a slender 6-4 lead at halftime.

But the psychological advantage undoubtedly lies with the Keas this weekend.

Along with a comprehensive 30-6 victory in the 2025 grand final, the Keas carved out convincing wins at Crosbie Park (36-12) in Round 3 and at Linwood Park (42-8) in Round 10 this season.

The Knights will be on high alert for Keas winger Julius Mumuta, who blazed in for a hat-trick in the latter clash last month.

The CRL Whitehead Plumbing and Gas Men’s Premiership preliminary final kicks off at 2.45pm on Saturday.

Saturday’s CRL Sidekick Chartered Accountants Canterbury Cup Conference League semi-finals serve up two intriguing showdowns – with the winners progressing to CRL Snap Fitness Grand Final Day.

CRL Sidekick Chartered Accountants Canterbury Cup Conference League table-toppers Linwood Keas had last weekend off and will face third-placed Halswell Hornets, who overwhelmed the Keas’ CRL Division One side at Linwood Park in the first week of the playoffs.

Meanwhile, CRL Division One leaders Northern Bulldogs welcome 2024-25 CRL Canterbury Cup grand final winners Eastern Eagles to Murphy Park in Kaiapoi in the other semi.

Both matches get underway at 1pm on Saturday.

It’s set to be a massive CRL Happy Hire Women’s Premiership semi-final Sunday with do-or-die showdowns at Leslie Park and Linwood Park.

Competition leaders Hornby Panthers, who lost just one game during the regular season, are hunting their second grand final appearance in three years as they host fourth-placed Eastern Eagles. The Panthers won their most recent clash 44-4, but the Eagles are not short on experience.

Second-placed Linwood Keas – runners-up last year – face off against two-time defending champs Sydenham Swans, who landed third after the home-and-away rounds.

The Swans prevailed in a grand final thriller last August, but the Keas powered to a 38-16 win in the rivals’ sole 2026 encounter so far.

Both CRL Happy Hire Women’s Premiership semis kick off at 1pm on Sunday.