Pietersen opens Japan account in big Panasonic win

TOKYO (Aug 31) Rugby World Cup winner JP Pietersen took just 10 seconds to get his first try in the Japan Rugby Top League as Panasonic Wild Knights hammered Kintetsu Liners 46-0 on Saturday.

The Springbok wing came on as a replacement in the 61st minute of the game at Kincho Stadium in Osaka, and scored with his first touch. His effort followed two first-half tries by Nicholas Ealey and was followed by five-pointers for Masaki Tani, Tomoki Kitagawa and Akihito Yamada. Atsushi Tanabe weighed in with five conversions and two penalties as the Wild Knights opened their season in style.

Earlier at the same stadium, Yamaha Jubilo defeated newly promoted Kubota Spears 38-28 on the back of a brace of tries from wing Shota Tanaka. Yuya Ohda, Mose Tuiali’i and So Kilryong also crossed, while Ayumu Goromaru knocked over two conversions and three penalty goals. Gintaro Takahashi contributed 16 points to Kubota’s cause via two tries and three conversions, with the Spears’ other points coming from tries by Phillip Searle Finau and Daisuke Inoue and a conversion from Harumichi Tatekawa.

Further west in Hyogo Prefecture, hosts Kobe Kobelco Steelers held on to beat NEC Green Rockets 28-26. Fraser Anderson’s try in the 67th minute, converted by Daisuke Yamamoto, proved to be the difference between the two sides after former Brave Blossoms back Shaun Webb had kicked two conversions and four penalties against the club he first played for in Japan back in 2005-06.

There were two close games in Tokyo with Toshiba Brave Lupus holding on to beat Canon Eagles 10-8, despite being forced to defend for most of the game, and Ricoh Blacks Rams drawing 27-27 with newly promoted Coca-Cola West Red Sparks. Daniel Peters was the hero of the day for Ricoh knocking over a penalty from the halfway line after the final hooter to ensure the Black Rams shared the points.

Sunday’s two games see NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes take on Kyuden Voltex and Toyota Verblitz play Toyota Shokki Shuttles.