Massetti Cup
CRL 2023: FINALS WEEK 2 WRAP
Linwood and Hornby will meet in the Pat Smith Trophy decider for the seventh time in eight years after the Panthers carved out a 26-12 victory in Saturday’s CRL Men’s Premiership preliminary final against Halswell Hornets. The Panthers, who bundled the Hornets out of the finals at the corresponding stage in 2021-22, got out to…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: PANTHERS EDGE HORNETS IN EXTRA-TIME GF THRILLER
As westside neighbours Hornby Panthers and Halswell Hornets prepare for their do-or-die preliminary final showdown at Leslie Park, Flashback Friday revisits the last of the clubs’ 11 Pat Smith Trophy Challenge encounters. The Panthers and Hornets had previously squared off in the 1984-87, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2001 and 2012 grand finals, with a Corey…
Read MoreCRL YOUTH WRAP & WEEKEND PREVIEW
YOUTH WRAP – AUGUST 7-9 The dominant teams in the CRL 16s and 14s Boys grades will contest next week’s youth night competition grand finals after all four carved out convincing semi-final victories at Ngā Puna Wai. In Monday’s 16s semis, unbeaten Linwood Keas defeated fourth-placed Celebration Lions 40-16, while Panthers Black overcame Panthers White…
Read MoreCRL 2023: FINALS WEEK 1 WRAP
Playoffs experience came to the fore as Linwood Keas’ CRL Men’s Premiership and ISC Canterbury Cup sides defeated the minor premiers of the respective grades on a dramatic opening day of the 2023 finals series. The Keas snared the first spot in the Pat Smith Trophy Grand Final via a 21-20 eclipse of archrivals Hornby…
Read MoreCRL YOUTH WRAP & WEEKEND PREVIEW
YOUTH WRAP – JULY 31-AUGUST 2 The weather and ground conditions forced the cancellation of last week’s CRL Youth Night Competitions, and although the 16s boys were back in action at Ngā Puna Wai on Monday, the weather intervened again on Wednesday. Linwood Keas stayed undefeated atop the 16s table with a 32-6 victory over…
Read MoreCRL 2023: RD 15 CLUB WRAP
The 2023 CRL Men’s Premiership regular season concluded amid a Saturday deluge that saw two matches to finish early, while the weekend’s weather event forced the cancellation of Sunday’s penultimate round of CRL Women’s Premiership fixtures. Hornby Panthers had managed to run in eight tries to two against Northern Bulldogs at Murphy Park when the…
Read MoreCRL YOUTH WRAP & WEEKEND PREVIEW
YOUTH WRAP – JULY 17-19 After a two-week breather for school holidays, the CRL youth night competitions resumed on Monday at Ngā Puna Wai. Undefeated Linwood Keas retained their lead on the 16s boys table with a 66-6 win over Papanui Tigers, while Hornby Panthers Black consolidated second with a 38-10 defeat of Celebration Lions.…
Read MoreCRL 2023: ROUND 14 CLUB WRAP
Hornby Panthers have wrapped up the Massetti Cup with one round of the 2023 CRL Men’s Premiership remaining courtesy of another statement win over perennial grand final adversaries Linwood Keas. Meanwhile, Halswell Hornets defied the wet conditions in an attacking onslaught and Riccarton Knights provided a taste of what might have been with a stirring…
Read MoreCRL 2023: ROUND 13 CLUB WRAP
Linwood Keas have been knocked off the top of the Massetti Cup ladder for the first time in 2023, courtesy of a stunning victory by Halswell Hornets under Ngā Puna Wai’s Friday Night Lights. Hornby Panthers assumed outright first place with a hard-fought win, while Eastern Eagles clinched their place in the CRL Men’s Premiership…
Read MoreCRL YOUTH WRAP & WEEKEND PREVIEW
YOUTH WRAP – JUNE 26 Linwood Keas have retained the Canterbury Rugby League 18s boys title after a thrilling 38-22 victory over a gallant Hornby Panthers outfit in Monday’s grand final at Ngā Puna Wai. The round-robin ledger was square between the archrivals heading into the decider – and it was the second-placed Panthers who…
Read More