Docomo pick up 2nd straight bonus-point win

SAPPORO (Sep 08) NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes picked up their second straight bonus-point win of the new Japan Rugby Top League season as they downed Toyota Shokki Shuttles 34-30 on Sunday.

The victory, based on an inspirational performance from South African Riaan Viljoen, sees the Red Hurricanes join Suntory as the only teams to have started the new two-pool, two-stage season in perfect fashion.

The two sides top Pool A on 10 points from two games, while the Shuttles have three points as a result of two narrow losses and scoring four tries in the loss to NTT.

Shokki got off to the better Sunday in Sapporo as they went 17-0 up inside 14 minutes. Wataru Kawai and Ryan Kankowski both crossed the whitewash and Mark Gerrard added two conversions and a penalty.

Viljoen started the NTT revival when he went over in the 21st minute, adding the conversion for good measure.

Gerrard added a second penalty eight minutes later before Docomo took control of the game.

Former Japan captain Takuro Miuchi and Wimpie van der Walt – one of Docomo’s three offseason signings from South Africa – both touched down with Viljoen adding the extras on both occasions. Viljoen then increased his side’s lead with a try, conversion and penalty inside the first seven minutes of the second stanza before Toyota hit back with a five-pointer from Chong Chi Hong.

But Docomo’s South African fullback was again on target in the 70th minute when he knocked over his second penalty, though Toyota had the last word, of sorts, as Shotaro Tahara crossed in the 75th minute to ensure Shokki picked up two bonus points – one for scoring four tries and pone for losing by less than seven points.