Newsletter - 16 May 2025
Welcome!
Welcome to the latest update from Christchurch Football Club, keeping you connected with everything happening in and around the club.
Premier Men’s Match Report
10 May 2025 at Christchurch Park
CFC vs University of Canterbury
Lost 17-52
Player of the Match: Finn Okane
A good day for footie with a good crowd of supporters, after missing out the previous week due to inclement weather.
It was always going to be a tough task, with University having already knocked off three of the more favoured teams this season—Linwood, Marist, and Lincoln University—all by impressive margins.
They were missing a number of their top players, away on representative duty. Christchurch, meanwhile, fielded much the same line-up as in previous weeks.
Christchurch kicked off into the sun. Within two minutes, University went wide down their left flank. Two missed tackles later, and they were in.
Christchurch responded with a penalty.
After 13 minutes, University went wide again—same flank, quick hands, under the posts. Their fullback was doing most of the damage early on.
Christchurch came back strongly following a break from No. 8 Josh Carr off a scrum. A series of drives and rucks, with Christchurch holding onto the ball, resulted with prop Felix Harrison driving over for a good try.
Christchurch then missed a penalty that would have given them the lead.
A good touch-finder and lineout followed, but a loose midfield pass was scooped up by University, who raced downfield for an easy try.
Just before halftime, University were in again—this time after a poor Christchurch lineout. University’s No. 12 found a huge gap inside the 22 and went in under the posts.
Halftime: 26–10
It would be fair to say that three of University’s tries came off Christchurch errors.
The second half didn’t start much better. Within five minutes, an aimless kick went straight to hand, and University punished the error with numbers and slick passing.
Seven minutes into the half, Christchurch made a few changes in the backline. George McLean came on at halfback, and his swift passing gave the backs more room to work. The return of Charlee Barrett (16), making his long-awaited comeback after two seasons out, also gave the forwards some go-forward momentum.
However, Christchurch were penalised at a lineout, and another missed tackle from the ensuing play stretched the lead to 40–10.
Then came perhaps Christchurch’s best period of the game.
Awarded a penalty, they moved the ball across the field. A series of rucks saw Josh Carr go close, but his pass went over the sideline, with young wing Finn Okane unmarked outside him.
The forwards kept the pressure on, and Carr was not to be denied—eventually barging over near the University line.
40–17 didn’t seem too bad in the context of the game.
Christchurch came again after 18-year-old debutant Flynn O’Hara got his hands on the ball for the first time. He wasted no time, beating two would-be tacklers with a nice step and gaining 20 metres. Unfortunately, an error occurred, and after a great Christchurch scrum, a loose ball cost them a great opportunity.
Sadly, Christchurch lost Barrett to what appeared to be a serious injury—just as he was beginning to make an impact after his long wait.
University added two more tries in the final 20 minutes—one from a missed tackle, the other through sharp handling and slick play.
COMMENTARY:
University were simply too fast, accurate, and slick with their passing—always someone in support. They dined out on Christchurch’s errors, scoring four tries directly from them. However, pressure forces errors.
Christchurch’s scrum was dominant. Lineouts were not too bad, though one long throw cost an opportunity.
Josh Carr continued his strong form from the New Brighton game. A couple of errors kept it from being a complete performance. Zac Langdon-Lane (2) returned after Barrett’s injury and carried strongly. Jake Tither (6) worked hard defensively, making some crucial tackles.
Jack Kneebone impressed around the field and won all his lineout balls.
Young O’Hara showed real promise—get some more ball to him this week.
Midfield kicking was patchy, with multiple culprits. “Kick to land, not to hand” might be the answer.
There were 29 penalties—far too many. It disrupted flow and momentum. Many were for holding on, which should easily be corrected. Then again, sometimes you need a wheelbarrow for the rule book.
Whilst we haven’t seen most of the competition yet, it’s hard to imagine any team being better than University There were some good signs in Christchurch’s performance. Small improvements will make a big difference.
Success is about living up to your potential—and you have that.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
Shane Warne, the great Australian cricketer, always said that when he went out onto the field of play, he always wanted to be in charge.
Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.
Looking forward to Club Day this weekend!
Written by David Struthridge (Sponge).
Player Profile: Finn McLeod
A big congratulations to Finn McLeod, who was selected for the New Zealand Under 20 side that recently won the Quadrangular Tournament in South Africa.
Finn started at No. 6 in the match against the Junior Springboks and had a good game.
He came through the Christchurch Junior system and was a standout player in the Christchurch Under 13 team that won its competition in 2019. The team was coached by his father, Tim McLeod.
Finn went on to attend Christchurch Boys’ High School, alongside teammates Will Haig and James Moore. All three made the First XV from 2022 to 2024 and impressed during their time there.
After finishing school, Finn joined the University Premier Team and was selected for the Crusaders development squad. He also boasts impressive rugby pedigree—his grandfather was none other than the late Alex “Grizz” Wyllie.
Photos show Finn celebrating the win over the Boks and as No. 8 in his Christchurch Junior days.
We’re sure the whole club joins in wishing him well on his rugby journey.
Written by David Struthridge (Sponge).
Premier Development’s Match Report
10 May 2025 at Christchurch Park
CFC vs University of Canterbury
Lost 12-17
Player of the Match: Yuta Ohata
After a rare cancellation of senior rugby due to the state of emergency in Christchurch last weekend, the boys were raring to get back on the paddock and put their hard training to the test. They welcomed the University of Canterbury to Field 1 for what promised to be a tightly contested match.
The game kicked off, and it wasn’t long before UC were knocking on the door. A tough start for Christchurch saw the visitors cross the line in the 4th minute, with a simple conversion giving them an early 7-point lead.
But the Crocs have learned some harsh lessons from slow starts this season—and this time, they responded. Some smart build-up play and composed control of the tempo saw Kuresa Iafeta crash over for Christchurch. With a solid conversion from Carter Trillo, the scores were locked at 7–7 by the 8th minute.
The rest of the half featured chances for both sides. Unfortunately, a promising Christchurch move out wide ended in a stray pass, which UC snatched up and turned into a 40-metre dash to the line. Despite some desperate chasing from the Crocs’ defence, the try stood, and UC took a 12–7 lead into the break.
Christchurch came out firing in the second half, spreading the ball well and building momentum. Their efforts were rewarded just five minutes in when TJ Tusa-Fa’aa’efili powered over to level the scores once again, 12–12.
The Crocs continued to apply pressure, dominating much of the second half. But despite camping near the UC line, they couldn’t quite break through. Then, on one of UC’s few attacking chances, an incredible offload put their winger into space on the left, and he crossed for the go-ahead try—17–12 to the visitors.
Christchurch kept fighting and spent the closing stages pressing hard, but couldn’t crack the UC defence. A tough battle ended with the score unchanged, and UC walked away with the win.
Despite the result, Christchurch can take real encouragement from the game. The areas they’ve been working on in training are showing clear improvement across the park.
A big thank you to all the supporters who came down to Christchurch Park—we appreciate every one of you!
The season is now well and truly underway, and this Saturday, the Crocs welcome Ōtautahi in what was originally set to be an away game—now shifted to our home turf to accommodate a rescheduled Club Day. We know OT will bring the noise, and we hope to see you there in full voice to support the Crocs and help make it a fantastic day for the entire club.
Looking forward to seeing you down there! 🐊
Written by Andy Scally.
Colts Premier Match Report
10 May 2025 at Sydenham
CFC vs Sydenham
Lost 28-57
Player of the Match: Riley McLaughlan
The match kicked off with Sydenham bursting out of the gates, scoring three early tries before we managed to settle into our rhythm. Once we gained some possession, the team fought back well, closing the gap and building momentum. However, Sydenham struck again just before the break, heading into halftime with a 28–21 lead.
We came out firing in the second half and quickly levelled the scores, thanks to a powerful try from one of our front rowers. The middle stages of the half saw both teams apply sustained pressure, but it was Sydenham who capitalised on a handling error to regain the lead. In defending that try, we were shown a yellow card, and being a man down proved costly.
With the numerical advantage, Sydenham shifted up a gear, running in three quick tries to take control of the match. Despite the scoreline, it was an entertaining game with plenty of positive signs from our squad—showing resilience and flashes of quality throughout.
Player of the Day went to Riley McLaughlan, who delivered a stellar performance in his debut at tighthead prop. His high work rate around the field, dominance in the scrums, and a well-earned try capped off a very impressive display.
Written by Tim Brocket.
Choppers Match Report
10 May 2025 at Christchurch Park
CFC vs University of Canterbury
Lost 12-17
Player of the Match: Fergus Robertson
Saturday took us on a journey to the most hallowed of hallowed grounds—the almighty Lancaster Park—where we faced the OT Pirates in what turned into one of the all-time Classic Classics games.
We had our best numbers yet, and once we got over the non-existent changing sheds (yes, we changed right in front of the fans), it was game on—and on it was!
From the first whistle, we were dominant. We showed the bigger opposition how to tackle—and how to run. The boys were looking sharp. But after a couple of defensive lapses, we gifted them the first try... and not long after, we gift-wrapped another. But as we sipped our magic water from our brand-new bottles (thank you!), the plan changed. And just like that, we were off—scoring two brilliant converted tries to take a 14–12 lead into halftime.
We came out firing in the second half—foot on the throat—and they were feeling it. Feeling it so much, in fact, that they did the unthinkable... they took the easy 3 points. Not once, but twice. In this grade, that’s considered a crime!
Still, we knew we had them. We let them sneak in another try—but with our Club GM watching on, the boys buzzed into action like a pocket rocket, totally rolling them for the final 15 minutes. We scored another two great tries, but unfortunately the kicks went wide, and we fluffed a couple of sitters that would’ve sealed the deal.
In the end, we went down 24–25, but what. a. game. It was hands down our best performance yet—and it’s only our third match as a team! Exciting times ahead—watch this space.
As a team, we're tracking nicely and improving every week. It's getting harder to choose the Player of the Day, with every man pulling his weight. The lads are pumped for Club Day!
Up up the Choppers!
Written by Richard Spiey (Spitty).
Game Day Sponsor 10 May 2025
A big thank you to Abbots Insurance Brokers for making this past Saturday’s games a reality. Their generous support helped bring everything together on and off the field, and we’re proud to have them backing our club.
Abbots has been a trusted name in Christchurch for over 30 years, offering tailored insurance solutions for personal, business, and rural needs. We’re grateful for their commitment to community sport — and encourage our members to support those who support us!
Website: https://abbott.co.nz/
Junior Rugby Season Kicks Off
The junior rugby season officially starts this weekend, and everyone’s looking forward to getting out on the field. To help prepare, we held internal games last weekend under sunny skies. It was a great chance for all teams to get some valuable game time in, and the energy across the club was fantastic.
It was especially exciting to see the Year 1s taking the field for the very first time, and the Year 3s giving tackle rugby a solid crack. There was a real buzz around the grounds, with players and supporters alike enjoying the pre-season run.
Meanwhile, our Senior Girls and Senior Boys teams kicked off their seasons last weekend with some strong performances and good games all round. Great to see the older players leading the way and setting the tone for the season.
A big thank you to the junior committee for all the behind-the-scenes work to get things ready. We also really appreciate everyone’s patience with the technical issues around the new registration system—it’s been a bit of a process, but we’re getting there.
Looking forward to seeing all our teams out on the pitch this weekend and enjoying their rugby, with plenty of support from the sidelines.
Written by Tim Brocket.
RED & BLACK DAY - Club Day 17 May
This Saturday, 17 May, we’re celebrating Club Day at CFC, and it’s shaping up to be an exciting day for all! The festivities start early at 9 AM as the Juniors kick off with their first games of the season. We encourage everyone to come along early and show your support for our future rugby stars as they hit the field.
Senior games start at 12:20PM with the Colts U’20 team on field #3. There are games on all three fields this Saturday with Premier Men kicking off at 2:45 PM on field #1. With food and drinks available all day long, you can grab a bite while enjoying all the action throughout the day.
We’re going all out with our RED & BLACK DAY theme, so wear your red and black gear with pride! Whether it’s an old playing jersey, retro Crusaders kit, or any other red and black apparel, this is the time to dig out those colours and get into the spirit of the day.
After the games, the fun continues! From 7 PM, there will be a DJ in the clubrooms, and we’ll be kicking off Happy Hour from 6 PM to 8 PM, so don’t miss out on the good vibes and great deals.
This is a fantastic opportunity to gather family, friends, partners, and kids for a full day of fun, rugby, and community spirit. Let’s come together to support the club and celebrate the season ahead. We can’t wait to see you there!
Mental Health Talk – 27 May
We're proud to be hosting a Mental Health Talk on Tuesday 27 May at 7:30pm, straight after training. This important session is open to all players, coaches, and members of our CFC community.
The talk will run for around an hour and cover key topics including:
What mental health really is
Why it matters, both on and off the field
Common challenges athletes face
Factors that influence mental wellbeing
The impact on individual players and team culture
How we can foster a more supportive club environment
Practical strategies to manage and maintain mental wellness
The evening will end with an open discussion — a safe space to share, ask questions, and break the stigma together. Our speaker, Matt Vaughan, brings real-life experience and a down-to-earth approach, making it a valuable opportunity for everyone.
We’ll have food available and the bar will be open, so stick around and connect with your teammates off the field too.
Game Day Sponsor – 17 May 2025 (Club Day)
We’re excited to have PAK’nSAVE Papanui as our Game Day Sponsor for Club Day this Saturday! Their support helps bring the community together — both on the field and around the BBQ — and we’re proud to have them backing the red and black.
A big thanks to the team at PAK’nSAVE Papanui for fuelling our day with unbeatable value and community spirit. Don’t forget to swing by their store next time you’re stocking up for the weekend!
Article added: Friday 16 May 2025