Canterbury Rugby League

Canterbury Rugby League
Club information
Nickname(s) Bulls
Founded 1912
Current details
Ground(s) Rugby League Park
CEO(s) Graeme Sole

Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand competitions. Previously teams have competed in the Bartercard Cup and Lion Red Cup. The CRL is currently part of the South Island Zone which includes the Tasman, West Coast, Otago and Southland regions.

Contents

Rugby League Park

Canterbury Rugby League owns Rugby League Park which was formerly known as the Addington Showgrounds.[1]

Local Competition

Eight teams currently compete in the Travel King Premiership;

The winner is awarded the Smith Trophy, which dates back to 1913.

History

Foundation

The organisation was founded on 13 July 1912 at a meeting that included William Moyle, Robert Brunsden, New Zealand representative Charlie Pearce and David McPhail, who had played with St Helens and Wigan.[2] A.E. Hooper was elected chairman on 17 July and would serve in that position until 1922. Henry Thacker, a Mayor and MP, was the first president of the CRL and served from 1912 until 1929.[3] He donated the Thacker Shield in 1913.

Canterbury first played on 7 September 1912 at the Show Grounds against Wellington. Ernie Buckland scored the first rugby league try in Canterbury as Wellington prevailed 5-4.[2] The first local club competition was held in 1913, with four clubs participating. Addington was founded on 31 January 1913, Sydenham one week later on 7 February, Linwood on 12 March and on the 14 March St. Albans was formed. The first Canterbury Rugby League Annual General Meeting was held on 31 March 1913.[2]

Touring teams

In 1955 Canterbury defeated the touring French side 24-12.[4] They defeated Great Britain 18-10, in 1990.

Glory Years

The early nineties saw a regional Canterbury side that included many future stars. The side was coached by Frank Endacott and included players such as Quentin Pongia, Terry Hermansson, Whetu Taewa, Logan Edwards, Brendon Tuuta and Mike Dorreen. With the creation of the Lion Red Cup however, many moved franchises and eventually ended up in Australia or England.

Lion Red Cup

In the Lion Red Cup, from 1994-1996, Canterbury was represented by the Christchurch City Shiners and the Canterbury Country Cardinals.

Team Season Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Position Finals
Cardinals 1994 22 15 2 5 615 410 205 32 Fourth Lost Preliminary Final
Shiners 1994 22 6 0 16 358 630 -272 12 Eleventh N/A
Cardinals 1995 22 9 2 11 446 448 -2 20 Tenth N/A
Shiners 1995 22 12 1 9 455 419 36 25 Sixth N/A
Cardinals 1996 22 6 1 15 365 555 -190 13 Tenth N/A
Shiners 1996 22 3 0 19 360 643 -283 6 Last N/A

Bartercard Cup

The Canterbury Bulls competed in the Bartercard Cup from 2000-2007, winning the title in 2000 & 2003. They were the only franchise from the South Island and the only franchise to play in every season.

Season Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Position (Teams) Finals
2000 22 15 0 7 658 525 133 30 Second (Twelve) Champions
2001 22 14 1 7 882 489 393 29 Third (Twelve) Defeated in Preliminary Final
2002 16 5 0 11 386 531 -145 10 Tenth (Twelve) N/A
2003 16 13 0 3 648 370 278 26 Minor Premiers (Twelve) Champions
2004 16 9 0 7 562 374 188 18 Fifth (Twelve) Defeated in Elimination Play-off
2005 16 11 0 5 543 388 155 22 Second (Twelve) Runners Up
2006 18 13 0 5 583 376 207 26 Second (Ten) Runners Up
2007 18 12 0 6 659 430 229 24 Third (Ten) Defeated in Preliminary Final

Bartercard Premiership

The Canterbury Bulls competed in the 2008 and 2009 Bartercard Premiership, winning the 2009 competition.

The Canterbury side was again be coached by Brent Stuart and Dave Perkins. Former Kiwis assistant coach and Bartercard cup winning Phil Prescott returned as the director of coaching.[5] The Canterbury U16's and U18's sides were be involved in curtain raiser matches before the Senior home games.[6]

References

  1. ^ Article: Rugby League Park needs fence The Press, 24 June 1998
  2. ^ a b c Coffey, John. Canterbury XIII, Christchurch, 1987
  3. ^ Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League ISBN 1-86971-090-8
  4. ^ Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League ISBN 1-86971-090-8
  5. ^ Bulls score Prescott The Press, 13 May 2008
  6. ^ Canterbury happy with six-team series The Press, 1 April 2008