The Northern Bulldogs paid tribute to club stalwart Glenn Scott on a memorable and emotional afternoon at Murphy Park during round three of the 2021 Bartercard Canterbury Premiership and ISC Canterbury Cup competitions.
Burnham Chevaliers (Canterbury Cup) and Riccarton Knights (Canterbury Premiership) graciously moved their home fixtures against Northern to Murphy Park in Kaiapoi, allowing the Bulldogs to honour ex-player, former president and Life Member ‘Scotty’, who passed away earlier this week after a brave battle with illness.
Northern players in both grades wore black armbands, while the respective teams linked arms for a moment’s silence before each game.
The Bulldogs’ Canterbury Cup team piled on 13 tries, including a hat-trick to veteran forward Ross Turi, in a 68-4 defeat of the Chevaliers, whilst in the Canterbury Premiership, a bumper crowd witnessed a Massetti Cup thriller with Riccarton chalking up its first victory of the season. The Knights led 16 – 10 at halftime and hung on in tense second stanza to win 16 – 14.
Meanwhile, perennial heavyweights Linwood Keas and Hornby Panthers find themselves in the familiar territory of being the only unbeaten teams after three rounds of the Bartercard Canterbury Men’s Premiership, but only after withstanding fierce challenges on Saturday.
The Keas led Papanui Tigers 16 – 10 at halftime, before clicking into gear and running out 34 – 16 winners. Fullback Ketesemanu Pouli and centre Penitito Ilalio both finished with doubles for the five-time champs.
Hornby was on course for a big win over previously unbeaten Celebration, powering out to a 16 – 0 advantage at the break. But the Panthers only escaped with a 22-20 victory at Leslie Park as the surprise-packet Lions came home with a wet sail.
Halswell Hornets seemed set for a tough arm-wrestle at home against Eastern Eagles, ahead just 14 – 10 at halftime. But the Hornets snared their second win of the campaign 36-10 after running in four tries to none in the second half.
RESULTS:
Bartercard Canterbury Premiership:
Halswell Hornets 36 defeated Eastern Eagles 10
Hornby Panthers 22 defeated Celebration Lions 20
Linwood Keas 34 defeated Papanui Tigers 16
Riccarton Knights 16 defeated Northern Bulldogs 14
ISC Sport Canterbury Cup:
Halswell Hornets 54 defeated Eastern Eagles 12
Shirley Hawks 38 defeated Hornby Panthers 20
Northern Bulldogs 68 defeated Burnham Chevaliers 4
Marist-Papanui 40 defeated Woolston Rams 16
Linwood Keas 20 defeated Ashburton Barbarians 0
