The first rounds of the Southern League and Canterbury Rugby League premiership saw some close contests and comfortable wins. Jaime Cunningham looks at the key clashes this weekend.
Merv Whittaker helped fundraise to build Halswell rugby league’s now earthquake-doomed clubrooms back in the 1970s - so he was appropriately given the honour of opening its successor.
The race for a Canterbury league premiership finals spot tightened up at the weekend after the Hornby Panthers nabbed a crucial win and the Northern Bulldogs went down convincingly at home.
A familiar foe may have effectively hung up his boots but Hornby will still face a significant thorn in their side when the CRL premiership holders face their arch-nemesis on Saturday.