CANTERBURY RUGBY LEAGUE 2021 AWARDS – LIST OF WINNERS

The full list of winners from the CRL 2021 Awards night, held at Halswell Rugby League Clubrooms on Wednesday night. Congratulations to all clubs, players, coaches, staff, officials, administrators and volunteers honoured for their efforts this season.   Canterbury Rugby League Senior Volunteer of the Year: Annette Pau’u (Riccarton Knights) Rochelle MacPherson Trophy – Administrator…

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WHALERS HARPOON BULLS IN HISTORIC UPSET

Otago is basking in one of the finest hours in its rugby league history after the Whalers pulled off a stunning 36-28 victory over the New Era Glazing Canterbury Bulls in a South Island Championship thriller at Ngā Puna Wai. The southern neighbours had not faced off in full-fledged competition in 50 years, but the…

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WELLINGTON STRIKE LATE TO EARN DRAW WITH CANTERBURY WOMEN

Canterbury and Wellington played out a thrilling 20-all draw at Ngā Puna Wai in the NZRL National Women’s Premiership after the Orcas scored a last-minute try. The home side led for 76 minutes after getting off to a flying, Charntay Poko-inspired start, but the Orcas fought back admirably and bagged four of the last five…

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CANTERBURY BULLS WRANGLE PLUCKY RAMS

The New Era Glazing Canterbury Bulls made it two from two in the NZRL National Premiership on Sunday – but they were forced to work for their 38-18 victory by a determined and enterprising Southland Rams outfit at Ngā Puna Wai. The Bulls, hamstrung by a glut of uncharacteristic mistakes, held a tenuous 16-12 lead…

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CANTERBURY BULLS OVERPOWER WEST COAST IN 15-TRY ROMP

The New Era Glazing Canterbury Bulls flexed their muscle in a dominant NZRL National Men’s Premiership campaign-opening performance, putting away the visiting West Coast Chargers 82-6 at Ngā Puna Wai. The home side piled on eight tries in the first half and another seven after the break. Elder statesman Toi Sepuloni was a standout at…

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CANTERBURY WOMEN FIND GROOVE TO OVERWHELM VIPERS

Canterbury has made an emphatic start to its NZRL National Women’s Competition campaign, overcoming a slow start to defeat a spirited-but-outclassed Mid Central Vipers line-up 38-8 at Ngā Puna Wai. In a comprehensive all-round team performance, the individual display of halfback Charntay Poko was the major talking point of the seven-tries-to-two victory. The former Warriors…

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AUCKLAND BLUE TOO STRONG FOR SOUTH ISLAND AT NGA PUNA WAI

A dominant second-half display underpinned Auckland Blue’s commanding 34-4 victory over South Island in the NZRL National 20-year competition match in Christchurch on Sunday. A vocal Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub crowd enjoyed an absorbing first-half tussle, with Auckland taking an 8-4 lead into the break. But the visitors stepped up a couple of gears…

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SOUTH ISLAND BLOW NORTHLAND AWAY IN 20s CLASH AT NGĀ PUNA WAI

South Island made a huge statement in Round 1 of the New Zealand Rugby League National 20s competition, defeating Northland 56-14 with a blistering attacking performance at Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub in Christchurch. Level 2 restrictions coming into effect on Sunday morning prevented spectators from attending the match – a shame given the perfect…

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‘TODDY’ HUMBLED BY CRL PLAYER OF THE DECADE HONOUR

Linwood Keas and New Era Glazing Canterbury Bulls stalwart Alex Todd’s naming as the Canterbury Rugby League Player of the Decade is a reminder there will always be a place for hard-working, consistent, tough grafters in our game. Following on from Jonny Limmer, who was named the player of the 2000s, Todd was adjudged Canterbury’s…

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FLASHBACK FRIDAY: ENDACOTT STARS AS NZ XIII SHOCK GREAT BRITAIN TOURISTS

Rockcote Canterbury Bulls stars Tevin Arona, Brad Campbell, Jope Tagicakibau, Ben Ilalio, Alex Todd and Michael Butson will line up for NZ Residents against the England Community Lions in Auckland on Friday night. Arona has been named co-captain of the Residents, who are coached by Bulls mentor Andrew Auimatagi. Flashback Friday revisits a famous victory…

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