PANTHERS EDGE OUT KEAS IN WOMEN’S GF THRILLER
Hornby Panthers are the 2026 CRL Happy Hire Women’s Premiership champions after defeating Linwood Keas in a CRL Snap Fitness Grand Final Day epic, scoring two late tries to win 26-24.
The rivals exchanged the lead several times as momentum swings abounded at Ngā Puna Wai – and the Panthers’ capture of the Canterbury Rugby League Challenge Trophy ultimately came down to Kyra-Lee Westland’s cool conversion of her own late solo try, the No.13’s second four-pointer of the second half.
Hornby opened the scoring after five mintues when Linwood let a Leah Stewart bomb bounce. Winger Anika Fouchee recovered the ball and muscled her way over.
The Keas hit back quickly with quick hands from Cassie Siataga and Metua Cranwell creating space for winger Mona Lisa Siataga to dive in out wide, but the Panthers went up 10-4 thanks to a barnstorming run to the line from young forward Tyler Limmer.
Halfback Cassie Siataga was in thick of it again to help lay on a try for right winger Diana Tuipolotu, before winning the race to her own grubber that deflected off the upright padding – handing the Keas a 14-10 halftime lead.
Hornby went ahead again seven minutes into the second stanza through Westland, who refused to die in the tackle and reached out to score.
Linwood needed only a few minutes to regroup in remarkable fashion. On the back of a big charge from Cranwell, fellow teenager Ava-Lea Maxwell started and finished a 60-metre movement, brushing off several defenders in a sensational charge to the line. The Keas then pushed out to the biggest lead of the match, 24-16, when fullback Angel Spooner scorched in out wide and Cassie Siataga nailed the touchline conversion.
But a spectacular piece of handling from centre Yasmin Puru-Tongia, scooping the ball off her bootlaces and popping a pass in one motion, created an opening for second-rower Anika Gates-Thorn to spear in for a vital try.
With five minutes remaining, Westland took the ball at first receiver 10 metres out from the Keas’ line, dummied and barged through a pair of defenders to level the scores. The influential lock slotted the conversion to put the Panthers in front.
The Tai Arona-coached minor premiers held for the tense remaining moments, the fulltime whistle sparked exuberant, well-earned celebrations from the Hornby players before co-captains Gates-Thorn and Ripena Umaga lifted the trophy.
Limmer, daughter of assistant coach and Panthers and Canterbury Bulls great Jonny Limmer, was named player of the match, though the likes of Westland could not have been far out of the reckoning, while Cranwell and Shade McGregor-Pakau were superb in a beaten Keas side.
2026 CRL HAPPY HIRE WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL – Hornby Panthers 26 (Kyra-Lee Westland 2, Anika Fouchee, Tyler Limmer, Anika Gatest-Thorn tries; Westland 3 goals) defeated Linwood Keas 24 (Mona Lisa Siataga, Diana Tuipolotu, Cassie Siataga, Ava-Lea Maxwell, Angel Spooner tries; Cassie Siataga 2 goals) at Ngā Puna Wai. Halftime: Keas 14-10. Referee: Richard Hurst-Long.
WATCH THE FULL MATCH REPLAY BELOW
