Suntory, NEC reach second-stage top group

YOKOHAMA (Oct. 20) – Suntory Sungoliath and NEC Green Rockets both booked their places in the top group for the second half of the Japan Rugby Top League season following wins on Sunday.

Kenta Nakasone and Atsushi Hiwasa scored tries, Ryan Nicholas kicked four conversions and two penalty goals and Go Aruga knocked over a drop goal as Suntory beat Kobe Kobelco Steelers 29-20.

“That was a good win for us,” said Suntory assistant coach Peter Hewat. “It’s always a big game with Kobe and we had to make sure we lifted our intensity. But we need to play like that every week from now on.”

Meanwhile, NEC downed Toyota Shokki Shuttles 28-6 to ensure that they too cannot finish outside the top four in Pool A.

Shindo Kamaike, Yu Tamura, Nemani Nadolo and Koichiro Kubota scored tries for the Green Rockets with Shaun Webb kicking two penalties and a conversion.

On Saturday, the pool B pair of Panasonic Wild Knights and Yamaha Jubilo also advanced to the second stage top tier.

The remaining four teams to make up the top group will be decided  next week when the first stage reaches its conclusion.

In the day’s two games in Pool B, Canon Eagles thrashed Coca-Cola West Red Sparks 66-36 and Kubota Spears edged Ricoh Black Rams 16-12.

Tokihiro Harada touched down three times, Tim Bennetts grabbed a brace and former rugby league player Omar Slaimankhel crossed for his first Top League try for Canon. Ryohei Mitomo weighed in with a try and eight conversions.

Harumichi Tatekawa was Kubota’s hero, the Japan back slotting over three penalties and converting Yasuhiro Negishi’s try.

The results mean both Canon and Kubota can still finish in the top four, while Cola and Ricoh will be in the bottom group in the second half of the season battling it out to avoid relegation.