CRL YOUTH WRAP & WEEKEND PREVIEW
YOUTH WRAP – MAY 1-3
Canterbury Rugby League’s youth night competitions got underway this week, with the region’s 14s, 16s and 18s boys club teams heading out under lights at Ngā Puna Wai and Avonhead Park.
The 16s boys kicked youth footy off for 2023 on Monday. Linwood Keas made an early statement courtesy of a 70-10 win over Woolston Rams Ngā Puna Wai. Hornby Panthers Black were similarly dominant in a 60-8 result against Papanui Tigers at Avonhead Park, while Hornby Panthers White played out a thrilling 24-all draw with Celebration Lions at Ngā Puna Wai.
Later on Monday evening, Hornby Panthers 18s carved out an impressive 40-12 victory against their Linwood Keas counterparts at Avonhead Park – after holding only a slender six-point lead at halftime. In the other 18s fixture, Halswell Hornets outlasted Papanui Tigers 24-14 at Ngā Puna Wai.
The first round of 14s boys matches unfolded on Wednesday night at Ngā Puna Wai, with Riccarton Knights defeating Sydenham Swans 30-10 and Papanui Tigers shutting out Eastern Eagles 46-0 in the early games, before Linwood Keas earned a hard-fought 26-14 win over Hornby Panthers.
The CRL girls youth competitions start next week – 16s girls are playing at Murphy Park and 14s girls will up at Crosbie Park on Monday night.
SEE ALL DRAWS AND RESULTS HERE
WEEKEND PREVIEW – MAY 5-7
The Massetti Cup Friday Night Lights fixture at Ngā Puna Wai between unbeaten defending premiers Linwood Keas and neigbouring rivals Eastern Eagles is the weekend’s senior football headliner. The Keas had to work hard for a 24-14 win over the Eagles at Wainoni Park in Round 1 after leading 16-10 at halftime. Tonight’s fixture is the first of four Friday night clashes scheduled for the home of Canterbury Rugby League in 2023.
Elsewhere in Round 6 of the CRL Men’s Premiership, Halswell Hornets will be looking to avenge their season-opening last-minute loss to Hornby Panthers when the Westside clubs square off again at Halswell Domain on the Hornets’ Club Day, while winless Riccarton Knights and Northern Bulldogs’ – whose only victory so far was over the Knights in Round 1 – square off in a pivotal Crosbie Park encounter.
In Round 6 of the ISC Canterbury Cup, the Knights and Papanui Tigers get the afternoon’s action at Crosbie Park underway, the Hornets do the same at Halswell Domain against the Panthers for their Club Day, Ashburton Barbarians are aiming to stay unbeaten when they travel up to take on the Eagles at Wainoni Park, the Bulldogs host the Keas, and Shirley Hawks and Burnham Chevaliers both get a chance to chalk up their first win for 2023 at Macfarlane Park.
Sunday’s CRL Women’s Premiership Round 4 fixtures pit unbeaten defending champs the Keas against the Chevaliers at Linwood Park and the Eagles against Woolston Rams at Wainoni Park.
SEE ALL DRAWS AND RESULTS HERE
