Panasonic book playoff spot as Suntory top Toshiba

TOKYO (Jan. 5) – Panasonic Wild Knights became the first team to book a spot in the playoffs to determine the Japan Rugby Top League champion Sunday following Suntory Sungoliath’s 30-29 win over Toshiba Brave Lupus.

The result means Panasonic cannot finish outside the top four and leaves four teams chasing the remaining three spots.

Suntory are in second spot in the standings on 23 points, four behind the Wild Knights. Yamaha are third on 18 points despite going down 41-16 to Toyota Verblitz, Kobe Kobelco Steers are a point behind in fourth, while Toshiba are fifth on 16.

Tries by George Smith, Kosei Ono and Takamichi Sasaki and three conversions and three penalties from Ryan Nicholas helped Suntory win the Fuchu derby.

Toshiba, whose points came from tries by Takehisa Usuzuki and Shuhei Oshima and five penalties and two conversions from Takahiro Ogawa had a chance to win it at the end but Ogawa’s penalty from 51 metres out fell just short.

“We gave them too many kickable penalties but shut them out when we needed to,” said Nicholas. “But a win is a win and when you put it in the context of the season we are pretty happy with it.”

Despite having three players sent to the sin bin, Toyota proved too strong for Yamaha, running in six tries. Yamaha led 9-0 early on, but Jerome Kaino touched down in the 25th minute and from thereon in it was all Toyota.

Meanwhile in the second-tier Group B, Kyuden Voltex did their relegation fears a world of good by downing Ricoh Black Rams 31-29 for just their second win of the season. With two games remaining Kyuden are on 11 points, seven more than NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes, who occupy the one automatic relegation spot.

Toyota Shokki Shuttles joined Kubota Spears on 23 points at the top of the rankings following a 34-21 victory over NTT Communications Shining Arcs, while Kintetsu Liners defeated Coca-Cola West Red Sparks 27-20.