CRL NEWS
Real the latest local league news
VALE BILL NOONAN
The CRL community is mourning the loss of one of New Zealand’s best-ever front-rowers and Canterbury’s finest rugby league exports, Kiwi #460 Bill Noonan, who has passed away in Sydney, aged 74. Rugged Linwood prop/second-rower Noonan played three Tests for New Zealand in the late-1960s, but arguably carved out a...
STALWART SMALLRIDGE WHISTLES HUMBLE TUNE AFTER 25 YEARS
Amid the myriad gongs handed out for excellence in the current calendar year at the recent 2021 Canterbury Rugby League awards, one unassuming individual received special recognition for quarter of a century of high standards and commitment to our game. Gary Smallridge cut his teeth in the CRL premier refereeing...
CANTEBURY BULLS OVERRUN BY STALLIONS IN NATIONAL DECIDER
The New Era Glazing Canterbury Bulls' 2021 campaign ended in disappointment, going down 36-22 to Upper Central Stallions in the NZRL Sky Sports National Men's Competition final at their Ngā Puna Wai home base. After taking the lead 10 minutes in, the Bulls conceded 32 unanswered points before running in...
CANTERBURY WOMEN CLAIM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WITH VICTORY OVER WELLINGTON
A fortnight after the teams played out a thrilling 20-all draw at Ngā Puna Wai, Canterbury clinched the NZRL Sky Sports National Women's Competition trophy with an outstanding 20-8 win over Wellington in the final at the same venue. Canterbury got off to a flying start before Wellington staged a...
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)...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
HARRAWAY-INSPIRED HORNBY END LINWOOD’S REIGN IN CLASSIC GRAND FINAL
Hornby Panthers have secured their first Canterbury Rugby League premiership since 2013, ending Linwood Keas' five-season tenure as Pat Smith Trophy holders with a 22-16 win in a titanic Grand Final struggle at Ngā Puna Wai. The Panthers led for all but the first eight minutes of the match and...
MARIST-PAPANUI EDGE NORTHERN IN EPIC CANTERBURY CUP GF ARM-WRESTLE
What the 2021 Canterbury Cup Grand Final lacked in tries, it more than made up for in drama and intensity as Marist Saints-Papanui held on for an unforgettable 6-2 triumph over Northern Bulldogs. The only points in the Premier Reserves decider came from the boot of Saints halfback Rangiawha and...
