CRL 2022 – ROUND 4 WRAP
Defending champs Hornby Panthers got off the mark for 2022 with a big second half, while Linwood Keas and Halswell Hornets racked up emphatic wins in Round 4 of the Bartercard CRL Men’s Premiership to consolidate the top two spots on the Massetti Cup ladder.
Heading into the weekend 0-3 and desperate for a win, Hornby trailed Celebration for most of the first half at Cuthberts Green but squared up at 10-all before the break through fullback Zinzaan Martin’s try.
The Lions regained the lead via a four-pointer to halfback Shayde Turner. The Panthers rallied again, however, posting the last three tries of the match – including a vital effort from 42-year-old hooker Corey Lawrie – to chalk up a 28-14 result.
Linwood stayed unbeaten at the top of the table with a resounding 56-6 defeat of Riccarton at Crosbie Park. After leading 22-0 at halftime, the heavyweight Keas piled on six tries in the second stanza.
Halswell made a forceful statement courtesy of a 46-0 shutout of Northern at home. Hornets fullback Jacob Nyman completed a hat-trick early in the second half, while centre Nick Evans scored a first-half double and Reupena Fiafele notched a brace after the break.
Since their one-point loss to the Keas in the opening round, the Hornets have carved out three straight wins by an average margin of 48 points to occupy second place on the table ahead of Eastern Eagles on for-and-against.
It’s a similar story in the Canterbury Cup with the Keas and Hornets – both 4-0 – first and second on the ladder, respectively, following convincing Round 4 wins.
Greymouth Greyhounds and Woolston Rams also picked up impressive premier reserves victories on Saturday.
The CRL Women’s Premiership got underway on Sunday. A Linwood Keas outfit fielding six newcomers defeated Woolston Rams 18-4, while defending champs Sydenham Swans overran Eastern Eagles 58-12 with Canterbury representative star Dayna Napa scoring four tries.
CRL 2022: BARTERCARD MEN’S PREMIERSHIP RD 4
Hornby Panthers 28 (Isileli Pulu, Zinzaan Martin, Muipu Nati, Corey Lawrie, Christian Fetu tries; Caleb Murphy 2, Lewis Allan 2 goals) defeated Celebration Lions 14 (Jope Gaunavou, Richie Moataan’e, Shayde Turner tries; Gaunavou goal) at Cuthberts Green
Linwood Keas 56 defeated Riccarton Knights 6 at Crosbie Park
Halswell Hornets 46 (Jacob Nyman 3, Reupene Fialele 2, Nick Evans 2, Cameron Greg tries; Jamie Nuttridge 7 goals) defeated Northern Bulldogs 0 at Halswell Domain
Eastern Eagles WBD v Papanui Tigers
CRL 2022: ISC SPORT CANTERBURY CUP RD 4
Linwood Keas 38 defeated Burnham Chevaliers 16 at Coronation Park
Greymouth Greyhounds 36 defeated Eastern Eagles 28 at Papanui Domain
Halswell Hornets 32 defeated Northern Bulldogs 18 at Halswell Domain
Woolston Rams 52 defeated Ashburton Barbarians 16 at Woolston Park
CRL WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP RD 1
Linwood Keas 18 defeated Woolston Rams 4 at Woolston Park
Sydenham Swans 58 defeated Eastern Eagles 12 at Bradford Park
