CRL Round 10 Wrap: Greyhounds break clear of logjam as Keas and Eagles cement top two spots

Greymouth Greyhounds moved into outright third in the CRL Whitehead Plumbing and Gas Men’s Premiership after a nail-biting win, while Linwood Keas and Eastern Eagles consolidated the top two positions with more emphatic victories in Round 10.

The Greyhounds held on 28-26 in a seesawing thriller against Hornby Panthers at Leslie Park, giving the club three consecutive wins for the first time in the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership.

The teams traded tries throughout the first half before Greymouth winger Cooper McLean’s blazing try opened up a 20-10 lead.

The Panthers responded with back-to-back tries to level the scores, before five-eighth Peter Te Rakau capped a huge game for the Greyhounds with a vital solo try. A subsequent penalty goal gave the visitors crucial breathing room, with Panthers winger Johnny Fine’s second try of the half coming in the dying moments.

The Keas kept their unbeaten record alive with a convincing 42-8 win over Riccarton Knights in the season’s second grand final rematch instalment.

The defending champs led 22-0 at halftime at Linwood Park and put another four tries on the board before the Knights grabbed a couple of consolation tries in the last 20 minutes.

Keas winger Julius Mumuta scored his team’s last two tries to finish with a hat-trick, while stand-off Thomas Ruwhiu scored a try in each half to go with five goals.

A dominant first-half display underpinned the Eagles’ 30-12 defeat of Halswell Hornets, leading 26-0 at the break at Wainoni Park.

Cyrus Timo-Latu’s early try set the tone for the Eagles, who were ahead of the clock at 18-0 as Amby Palamo Pulega and Harold Kolose crossed, while Mita Maamaloa dotted down before halftime.

After Henare Kahukiwa opened the scoring in the second half for 30-0, the Hornets did well to stem the tide and nab the last two tries.

Eastern Eagles moved into outright top spot in the CRL Sidekick Chartered Accountancy Canterbury Cup Conference League after outlasting former co-leaders and 2024-25 grand final opponents Halswell Hornets 32-22.

Linwood Keas joined the Hornets in equal-second via a 64-6 defeat of Riccarton Knights with Elma Faaiva and Hanipale Fido both grabbing hat-tricks. Meanwhile, fourth-placed Hornby Panthers recovered from a 10-point second-half deficit to draw 22-all with fifth-placed Greymouth Greyhounds.

CRL Division One leaders Northern Bulldogs arrested a two-game slide with a crucial, hard-fought 20-6 road win over Ashburton Barbarians as winger Matthew Clough scored a try in each half.

Shirley Hawks stayed in the playoffs hunt with a 44-24 victory against third-placed Eastern Eagles.

Eastern Eagles took a significant step towards a place in the CRL Happy Hire Women’s Premiership semis by defeating Shirley Hawks 52-14 in Sunday’s Round 6 clash.

Hornby Panthers have underlined their status as the team to beat in the CRL Happy Hire Women’s Premiership, staying undefeated by outlasting defending champs Sydenham Swans 28-16.

In a Monday night fixture at Denton Park, the Panthers raced to a 16-0 lead before the Swans regrouped to cut the halftime deficit to six points. But the home side scored two tries to one after the break to maintain a four-point lead at the top the ladder.

CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMBING & GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 10 RESULTS

Eastern Eagles 30 defeated Halswell Hornets 12 at Wainoni Park

Greymouth Greyhounds 28 defeated Hornby Panthers 26 at Leslie Park

Linwood Keas 42 defeated Riccarton Knights 8 at Linwood Park

CRL SIDEKICK CHARTERED ACCOUNTANCY CANTERBURY CUP CONFERENCE LEAGUE – ROUND 10 RESULTS

Eastern Eagles 32 defeated Halswell Hornets 22 at Wainoni Park

Hornby Panthers 22 drew with Greymouth Greyhounds 22 at Leslie Park

Linwood Keas 64 defeated Riccarton Knights 6 at Linwood Park

CRL DIVISON ONE – ROUND 9 RESULTS

Shirley Hawks 44 defeated Eastern Eagles 24 at Macfarlane Park

Northern Bulldogs 20 defeated Ashburton Barbarians 6 at Robilliard Park

CRL HAPPY HIRE WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 6 RESULTS

Eastern Eagles 52 defeated Shirley Hawks 14 at Macfarlane Park

Hornby Panthers defeated Sydenham Swans at Denton Park

Photo Credit: Abraham Atherton Photography