CRL 2023: ROUND 6 CLUB WRAP
Linwood Keas kept their unbeaten record intact with a Friday night victory at Ngā Puna Wai, Hornby Panthers took out another Westside derby thriller and Riccarton Knights opened their 2023 premiership account in a close-fought sixth round of the Massetti Cup.
The Keas and Eagles were locked 10-all at halftime at the home of Canterbury Rugby League in the first of four Friday night fixtures this season. But the defending champs scored three tries to one after the break to run out 28-16 winners.
Linwood fullback Jerome Taefu continued this prolific tryscoring form with a double.
For the second time in 2023, the Panthers and Halswell Hornets produced a nail-biter at Halswell Domain. The Hornets were in the driver’s seat at 16-4 up at halftime, but the Panthers scored the first 20 points of the second stanza.
The hosts set up a grandstand finish on their Club Day with a belated reply but the Panthers sealed a 28-22 result – and consolidated second spot on the Massetti Cup ladder via a late try. Hornby winger Seamus Stack added yet another four-pointer to his impressive season tally, while evergreen Corey Lawrie was also among the Panthers’ tryscorers.
After some near misses this year the Knights got on the board courtesy of a 28-16 defeat of Northern Bulldogs at Crosbie Park.
Riccarton stormed to a 22-0 halftime advantage before withstanding a Northern fight-back. Kolio Vailuu scored two tries off the bench for the victorious Knights.
In ISC Canterbury Cup action, Eastern Eagles inflicted Ashburton Barbarians’ first loss of the season – 40-16 at Wainoni Park – to join them in equal-second on the ladder, one win shy of Greymouth Greyhounds, who had the Round 6 bye.
Linwood Keas, Halswell Hornets and Papanui Tigers all carved out important victories to draw level with Hornby Panthers in equal-fourth ahead the squeeze before the Premier Reserves/Division One mid-season split.
Defending Women’s Premiership champions Linwood Keas improved to 4-0 with a convincing 48-4 win over Burnham Chevaliers on Sunday, while Woolston Rams chalked up a vital 20-18 win over Eastern Eagles to open up a four-point buffer between the top three and the bottom two on the table.
2023 CRL MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – MASSETTI CUP ROUND 6
Hornby Panthers 28 (Muipu Nati, Seamus Stack, Corey Lawrie, Zinzan Martin, Jesse Jones tries; Caleb Murphy 4 goals) defeated Halswell Hornets 22 (Josh Everett, Josh Rawiri, Dylan Geddis, Tahemaka Nui tries; Jamie Nuttridge 3 goals) at Halswell Domain
Riccarton Knights 28 (Kolio Vailuu 2, Elima Faaiva, Te Morehu Reweti, Kyle Leka tries; Matariri Halbert-Pere 4 goals) defeated Northern Bulldogs 16 (William Duncan, Cameron Godfrey, Travis Pokai tries; Jackson Becks 2 goals) at Crosbie Park
Linwood Keas 28 (Jerome Taefu 2, Michael Fili, George Faaiva, Kyle Amer tries; Daniel Hartley 4 goals) defeated Eastern Eagles 16 (Peneli Peneli, Deijdr’e Siaki, Jimmy Rangiawha tries; Rangiawha 2 goals) at Ngā Puna Wai
2023 CRL PREMIER RESERVES – CANTERBURY CUP ROUND 6
Halswell Hornets 26 defeated Hornby Panthers 22 at Halswell Domain
Linwood Keas 54 defeated Northern Bulldogs 0 at Murphy Park
Papanui Tigers 22 defeated Riccarton Knights 14 at Crosbie Park
Shirley Hawks 22 defeated Burnham Chevaliers 12 at Macfarlane Park
Eastern Eagles 40 defeated Ashburton Barbarians 16 at Wainoni Park
Greymouth Greyhounds BYE
2023 CRL WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 4
Linwood Keas 48 defeated Burnham Chevaliers 8 at Linwood Park
Woolston Rams 20 defeated Eastern Eagles 18 at Wainoni Park
Sydenham Swans BYE
