Coca-Cola retain Top League status

FUKUOKA (Feb. 8) – Coca-Cola West Red Sparks kept their place in the Japan Rugby Top League by beating Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars 22-17 on Saturday.

In the first of the three final promotion/relegation playoff games, the Red Sparks held on for the win at Level 5 Stadium after a try by New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup hero Stephen Donald in the 54th minute had put just five points between the sides.

Cola – who finished the regular season in 14th spot in the Top League – got off to the best possible start when Yusaku Kuwazuru crossed in the fifth minute.

Takeshi Katsuki added to the Red Sparks’ lead when he went over 11 minutes later, only for Mitsubishi – who ended the regular season as Top East champion before finishing third in Top Challenge One – fought back.

Former Wales international Shane Williams crossed the whitewash in the 26th minute, with Donald adding the extras, and Kazuya Aoki added a second try nine minutes later to make it 12-10.

Cola, regained the ascendency, however, just before the break, with Arata Nanri touching down and they stretched their lead to 10 points nine minutes into the second half with a try by Shuhei Kawashita, converted by Tu Umaga-Marshall.

Donald’s five-pointer gave Mitsubishi hope, but Cola’s defence ensured their top-flight survival.

The other two playoff games, to be played Feb. 15, see NTT Communications Shining Arcs take on Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars and NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes up against Honda Heat.