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Premier Men’s Match Report

5 April 2025 at Christchurch Park

CFC vs Belfast 

Lost 15-19

Player of the Match: Thomas Sexton

Here we are — another season, another journey, and more expectation. Only a week since cricket wrapped up. The Crusaders are well underway and showing improvement on last year.The Warriors: “Is it going to be their year?”

A nice autumn day at the park brought out a good crowd to kick off the season.The appetite was whet by a strong win from the Premier Reserves over Belfast.

There was much anticipation around a relatively new Premier side.

THE PLAY

Christchurch kicked off towards the playground end. An early midfield break by Tom Sexton gave Christchurch some momentum, and after just two minutes they were awarded a penalty from a handy range — but missed the shot.

A clearing kick from Belfast resulted in a dropped ball, and Christchurch found themselves defending their line for a sustained 10-minute period. Their defence held strong.

A promising breakout offered hope, but a poor pass halted the movement downfield.

At the 20-minute mark, a dominant Belfast scrum caused disarray, and their No. 8 scooped the ball up and raced 50 metres untouched for a try. The conversion was nailed from the sideline.Belfast 7 – 0 Christchurch

Christchurch responded almost immediately. Halfback Mitch Barry put up a kick from the 22. Fullback George McLean followed through and collected a kind bounce at halfway. He linked with livewire No. 7 Will Edwards, who, under pressure, offloaded to No. 14 Seth Hignett to dive over by the posts for a quality try. Conversion successful.7 – 7 at halftime.

The second half started with Belfast on the front foot, and after five minutes, McLean (15) was yellow-carded. Christchurch then missed a penalty from in front, and Belfast responded with a successful kick.Belfast 10 – 7 Christchurch

Christchurch then applied sustained pressure on the Belfast line, turning down a kickable penalty to chase a try. Belfast stood firm, even while down a player due to a yellow card.

Soon after, Belfast were rewarded for their defensive stand, moving the ball downfield and kicking a penalty following a Christchurch infringement. That started a run of penalties and goal attempts.

At the 31-minute mark, Belfast slotted another penalty from a Christchurch scrum infringement. Three minutes later, Christchurch responded with one of their own, but Belfast replied again with a kick from in front.Belfast 19 – 10 Christchurch

Two minutes from full-time came the try of the match. Christchurch won a lineout on the clubroom side near the 22. They set up a maul, then released the ball along the backline. Crisp, accurate passing across the chain found Jovilisi Talga (13), who had too much pace for the cover defence and scored out wide. The conversion missed.

The match ended with Belfast pressing hard, but a knock-on ended their final chance.Final Score: Belfast 19 – 15 Christchurch

COMMENTARY

This was a very young side, with seven players making their Premier debut. Belfast are a big, experienced team with at least six South Canterbury representatives in their squad.

Kalle Valimaki played his blazer game and was one of the most experienced players in the Christchurch lineup. Congratulations to Kalle — a great team man who made a significant impact while on the field.

The scrum held its own apart from two moments where Belfast were able to capitalise. Lineouts were much improved, with Jake Tither (6) and Jack Kneebone (5) securing quality ball. We still struggled going long, missing three good opportunities — definitely something to work on.

Will Edwards had a strong debut at No. 7, while Tom Sexton stood out in the backs with several powerful runs. He was named Christchurch Player of the Match.

Defensively, the team was solid, conceding just one opportunistic try. Mitch Barry may be slightly disappointed with his goal kicking — not quite up to his usual standard — but overall, the effort was there.

Aside from the final try, which was a standout in execution, the backline passing looked a little laboured at times. Still, the tackling effort was excellent against a big Belfast side.

The game was somewhat spoiled by the high penalty count — 26 in total, which from a time perspective is nearly half the match. In many ways, the game was decided by this alone, with Belfast converting all of their shots at goal, and Christchurch not.It brings to mind the 1950 Test match between the British Lions and the All Blacks, which ended in a 9–9 draw and featured a staggering 104 lineouts.This isn’t what rugby needs.

It’s early days, but there are promising signs. With a couple of key players returning from injury in the next few weeks, the squad will be bolstered.

Credit to the coaches — William Mills, Sam Cotton, and James Jowsey — for their hard work in preparing this team. Let’s get behind them.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

A young basketball player approached his hero, the great Kobe Bryant, who was visiting his college.

He said: “I want to be like you.”

Bryant replied: “No — I want you to be better.”

Written by David Stuthridge (Sponge).

Player Profile: Will Edwards

Position: Loose Forward (7)

CFC Premier Men’s Debut: vs Belfast, 5 April 2025

Age: 18

Will attended Shirley Boys’ High School, where he played in the First XV in 2023 and 2024. He played his junior rugby for Parklands and has always worn the No. 7 jersey.

He represented Canterbury U16 and captained the Junior Crusaders in 2024. Will was introduced to Christchurch Football Club by Mark Hammett.

Other Sporting Pursuits: None

Family: Parents Kerry and Darlene, two brothers, and a sister

Favourite Player: Richie McCaw

Most Admired CFC Player: Jack Kneebone

Premier Reserve Men’s Match Report

5 April 2025 at Christchurch Park

CFC vs Belfast 

Won 24-15

Player of the Match: Finn O'Kane

Saturday rolled around and the sun shone down — a perfect day to kick off the season for the Crocs. Belfast made the trip from Sheldon Park, hoping to spoil the party and take the win home.

The match began a little shakily, with Belfast controlling much of the early exchanges and grabbing an early lead with a try in just the third minute. CFC settled down quickly though, finding their rhythm and shifting the game back to their style. A brilliant run from Finn O'Kane, followed by excellent support from Lolesio Iafeta, saw him cross the line to even things up at 5–5.

Belfast struck again just before halftime after a tight, back-and-forth half, giving them a 10–5 lead at the break.

The second half started strongly for the Crocs.Sustained pressure eventually paid off when Aaron Hodgson-Bell darted across the line to score, levelling the match at 10–10.

Not long after, a dangerous high tackle on Finn O'Kane saw Belfast reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes. The Crocs took full advantage, with Lolesio Iafeta grabbing his second try of the day. Cyril Tamou slotted the conversion, giving the Crocs their first lead of the match — 17–10.

The game stayed tense, with neither side giving an inch, until Travis Moody crashed over in classic forward fashion to give the Crocs some breathing room. Connor Mahan added the extras — despite being handed the wrong tee for the third time in the game — stretching the lead to 24–10 with just three minutes remaining.

Belfast managed a late try with a minute on the clock, adding some late drama, but the missed conversion left them just short. The Crocs were able to control possession and play out the final seconds to secure an important first-up bonus point win.

Thank you to all the supporters who came out to cheer on the lads — your energy made a difference. A big shoutout to Matt, Brewser, and Grayson for their leadership and coaching on the day. And a special thank you to Muir Don, who made a long-awaited return to the club to lend a much-needed hand in the management department.

On to the next one — the Crocs are hopeful for a big 2025.

Written by Andy Scally.

Colts

The Colts season is just around the corner, with pre-season matches and trial games underway as the teams prepare for the season to kick off after Easter. It’s an exciting time for the Prem Colts and Colts 20's as they fine-tune their skills and get ready for what’s sure to be an action-packed season. Stay tuned for more updates.

Netball

The netball season kicks off in May and we're excited to announce that this year, we have seven teams ready to hit the courts! With a full house and plenty of energy, we're looking forward to an action-packed season ahead.

CFC 2026 Preseason Tour to Australia – A Legacy in the Making! 

CFC is gearing up for an unforgettable preseason tour to Australia in 2026 – and you don’t want to miss it! This tour is more than just about rugby; it’s a chance to bond as a team, face new challenges, and strengthen our ONE club culture. 

For the first time in club history, both our men’s and women’s teams will be touring together, marking a milestone in our club’s legacy. Players from Premier, Premier Development, Colts, and Premier Women are all encouraged to bring their commitment and dedication – both on and off the field – as we fundraise together to make this tour a reality. 

This tour is also a chance for everyone in the CFC family to get involved, even if you’re playing elsewhere this season. We warmly welcome and encourage players who may not be on a CFC team this year to join in the fundraising efforts and support the cause. Your involvement will add to the sense of unity and make the experience even more meaningful.

The tour promises top-tier competition, new experiences, and the opportunity to elevate your game to the next level. It’s not just about the matches; it’s about the journey, the memories, and the bonds we’ll build along the way. 

To our players, this is a chance to be part of something bigger – to grow as a player, embrace adventure, and create lifelong memories. Stay up to date on our social media pages for upcoming fundraising initiatives and ways you can support the team. 

Let’s make history together, CFC!

Junior Rugby Have-a-go Day 

Saturday morning saw plenty of action on and off the field as the Junior Rugby team hosted a Have-a-Go Day ahead of the afternoon fixtures. It was a great opportunity for the little ones to get involved, run around, and get a feel for rugby in a fun, relaxed environment.

In addition to the event at the club, the Have-a-Go Days were also held at local schools with great success. The excitement and enthusiasm from the kids were fantastic, and it’s clear there’s a lot of young talent in the community!

We had a solid turnout at the club, a few sign-ups on the day, and lots of smiles all round — a fantastic result!

A big thank you to the Premier Men’s players who gave up their time to run drills and encourage the next generation of CFC talent, as well as the Junior Club volunteers who helped organise and run the morning. Your effort and energy made the day a real success.

Remembering Warren Thomson

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Warren Thomson on Wednesday, 26 March.

Warren was a deeply respected and valued member of the Christchurch Football Club community. His tireless contributions over the years were recognised with two of the club’s highest honours: the Cottrell Award in 2023 and the Axeman’s Award in 2024.

Warren’s dedication to CFC left a lasting impact, and he will be fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of working alongside him. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

Included in this newsletter is a tribute written in 2016 that highlights Warren’s long-standing service and commitment to the club.

Article added: Thursday 10 April 2025