Massetti Cup
KEAS RETURN TO CRL PREMIERSHIP PEAK WITH RESOUNDING GRAND FINAL RESULT
Linwood Keas claimed their eighth Canterbury Rugby League premiership in 10 seasons in emphatic fashion, overwhelming Riccarton Knights 30-6 in the 2025 Pat Smith Trophy Challenge decider to wrap up a massive CRL Happy Hire Grand Final Day at Ngā Puna Wai. The Andrew Auimatagi-coached Keas posted four tries to none in the first half…
Read MoreKNIGHTS EYE ONE LAST CONQUEST AFTER HISTORIC GRAND FINAL CHARGE
Several near misses, tough seasons and rebuilds later, Riccarton Knights return to the CRL Happy Hire Grand Final Day stage for the first time in 21 years. The Knights face minor premiers Linwood Keas at Ngā Puna Wai on Sunday (3pm kick-off) after carving out a stunning 36-16 preliminary final victory over Halswell Hornets. Keeping…
Read MoreBACK TO THE FUTURE FOR KEAS AND KNIGHTS IN 2025 CRL GRAND FINAL
While Linwood Keas line up in their 10th premiership decider in 11 seasons on CRL Happy Hire Grand Final Day this Sunday – winning eight titles during that period – opponents Riccarton Knights are gearing up for the big for the first time in 21 years. The Knights’ two grand final appearances, in 2002 and…
Read MoreCRL PREMIERSHIP DECIDERS: A GRAND HISTORY
The Pat Smith Trophy has been Canterbury Rugby League’s ultimate prize for more than half a century, awarded to the winning side in each year’s grand final since a playoffs system replaced the first-past-the-post format to decide the premiership in 1967. Sunday’s CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership decider between Linwood Keas and Riccarton…
Read MoreCRL FINALS WEEK 2 CLUB WRAP: KNIGHTS SEAL FIRST GRAND FINAL BERTH SINCE 2004
Riccarton Knights have qualified for their first Pat Smith Trophy Challenge grand final appearance in 21 years after a stunning preliminary final performance catapulted them into a showdown with Linwood Keas. Meanwhile, Linwood Keas and Sydenham Swans will square off in the CRL Bartercard Women’s Premiership decider as a wild weekend of finals footy concluded…
Read MoreCRL FINALS WEEK 2 CLUB PREVIEW: HORNETS AND KNIGHTS CHASE GRAND FINAL SPOT
Halswell Hornets and Riccarton Knights will vie for the opportunity to join Linwood Keas on CRL Happy Hire Grand Final Day, squaring off in Saturday’s CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership preliminary final this Saturday. The rivals experienced contrasting fortunes during last weekend’s opening batch of finals fixtures. The second-placed Hornets were humbled 30-4…
Read MoreCRL FINALS WEEK 1 CLUB WRAP: KEAS INTO GF, KNIGHTS CONQUER IN DO-OR-DIE CLASH
Linwood Keas are through to their 10th Pat Smith Trophy Challenge grand final in 11 seasons, while Riccarton Knights stayed alive in the title hunt after a pair of convincing CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership finals results on Saturday. The Massetti Cup-winning Keas earned the first CRL Happy Hire Grand Final Day spot…
Read MoreCRL FINALS WEEK 1 CLUB PREVIEW: KEAS HEED LAST YEAR’S LESSONS AS GREYHOUNDS PREPARE FOR HISTORIC DEBUT
The 2025 CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership playoffs get underway on Saturday with a CRL Happy Hire Grand Final Day qualifier at Linwood Park and an elimination final at Crosbie Park. Perennial heavyweights Linwood Keas finished six points clear of the field to add another Massetti Cup success to the Thacker Shield that…
Read MoreCRL ROUND 13 CLUB WRAP: GREYHOUNDS PIP PANTHERS FOR HISTORIC FINALS SPOT
Greymouth Greyhounds have qualified for the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership finals series in just their second season in the top grade – at the expense of defending champs Hornby Panthers in a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 Massetti Cup. The Greyhounds did their part in the final regular season round by overwhelming…
Read MoreCRL ROUND 13 CLUB PREVIEW: FRANTIC FINAL-ROUND SCRAMBLE FOR PLAYOFF PLACES
The 2025 CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership is set for a thrilling regular-season conclusion this Saturday, with only first and last spots on the Massetti Cup ladder locked in heading into the final round. Five points clear at the top of the table, Linwood Keas have already sewn up another Massetti Cup success…
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