EAGLES HOLD ON FOR CANTERBURY CUP TRIUMPH

Eastern Eagles have outlasted Halswell Hornets in the CRL ISC Sports Canterbury Cup grand final 14-6.

The Eagles scored the only two tries of the second half to subdue the minor premiership-winning Hornets, reversing the clubs’ major semi-final result from a fortnight earlier.

A frantic opening period featured missed opportunities, punishing defence and an electric atmosphere created by passionate fanbases on both Ngā Puna field 2 embankments.

Centre Solomon Leatherby belatedly opened the scoring for the Eagles with a 32nd-minute try, but Hornets prop Alex Levien hit back almost immediately for a 6-all halftime scoreboard.

Eastern took the ascendancy with unconverted tries to Tyrone Stowers and Alesana Taefu before the hour mark.

The Eagles maintained that eight-point buffer until fulltime, spending most the final quarter camped on their own line but repelling repeated waves of desperate Hornets attack.

CRL ISC SPORTS CANTERBURY CUP GRAND FINAL

Eastern Eagles 14 (Solomon Leatherby, Tyrone Stowers, Alesana Taefu; Shannon Sweeney goal) defeated Halswell Hornets 6 (Alex Levien try; Josh Levien goal) at Ngā Puna Wai.