Panasonic, Canon open 2nd stage with wins

KUMAGAYA, Saitama Prefecture (Nov. 30) – Japan Rugby Top League action resumed Saturday following a four-week break for the November tests.

The second half of the season sees the top eight sides battling it our for the silverware in Group A, while the bottom eight sides play in Group B to avoid relegation.

Saturday saw two games in each group with Panasonic Wild Knights downing Yamaha Jubilo 24-20 and Canon Eagles holding on to top NEC Green Rockets 22-19 in the top group, while in Group B, Kyuden Voltex picked up their first win of the season by beating NTT Communications Shining Arcs 38-36 and Coca-Cola West Red Sparks downed Ricoh Black Rams 32-17.

Panasonic’s win came on the back of tries by Akihito Yamada and Shota Horie with man-of-the-match Berrick Barnes adding four penalty goals and Masayuki Osawa adding a conversion.

Yamaha responded with a tries by Shota Tanaka and Mose Tuiali’i and two conversions and two penalties from Ayumu Goromaru.

Earlier at Kumagaya Rugby Ground, Ryohei Mitomo helped Canon upset NEC. The Canon centre knocked over a penalty and two conversions but more importantly helped to control the Canon defensive line, as NEC were restricted to one converted try and four penalties from Shaun Webb.

Kyuden produced the shock of the day as they beat NTT Comms – the deciding score coming in the final minute with Yusuke Arakami touching down and Genki Saito adding the all important conversion. Saito had a perfect day with the boot finishing with five conversions and a penalty from as many attempts.

In the day’s other game, Coca-Cola scored three second-half tries to turn a 5-0 halftime lead into a comfortable win. Tu Umaga-Marshall had a day to remember scoring two tries, three conversions and two penalties.