Green Rockets too strong for Shining Arcs.

TOKYO (Sept. 6) – NEC Green Rockets went top of Pool A Friday night as the second weekend of the first stage of the Japan Rugby Top League got underway.

Tries by Ryota Asano, Nili Latu, Nemani Nadolo and Gareth Delve helped the Green Rockets to a 33-20 win over NTT Communications Shining Arcs at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground as Greg Cooper’s team made it six points from their opening two games.

“We are obviously very happy to get a bonus point win but we had to fight for it,” said Cooper. “NTT brought a physical approach to the game and took it to us and made it a close game. Though we put ourselves under pressure by not controlling the ball as well as we should.”

Shaun Webb added two penalties and a conversion and Yu Tamura kicked a penalty and conversion for the Green Rockets, while the Shining Arcs’ tries came from Daisuke Kurihara and Matt Saunders with Yoshio Kimishima adding two penalties and two conversions.

“We went backwards at the breakdown and that’s why we lost the game,” said NTT coach Masato Hayashi.

Cooper was full of praise for Webb and Tamura and said the pair would only get better as NEC learnt to control the ball.

It was a point not lost on Delve, who became the first Welshman to play in the Top League – Shane Williams’ appearances in Japan being confined to the second division.

“I though Yu was excellent, especially when he stepped in at 10 after Webby got injured,” he said.

Cooper also praised the performance of Delve, who joined the club in the offseason from the Melbourne Rebels.

“He carries the ball strongly, is good at the breakdown and reads the defence really well,” said the former All Black. “He’s a good professional with a great attitude who brings a physical presence to us and I think he is going to be really good in Japan.”