Suntory pick up 3rd win by edging Canon 20-17

TOKYO (Sept. 5) – Suntory Sungoliath made it three wins from as many games in Pool B of the Japan Rugby Top League as they beat Canon Eagles 20-17 on Friday night.

As with their previous two victories, it was a close-run thing with the decisive score coming eight minutes from time as Naoya Okubo’s team went top of the pool with 12 points, with three other Pool B games and four Pool A games set to be played Saturday.

Schalk Burger scored the winning try following a scrum five metres out, the South African international picking up his second man-of-the-match award in as many weeks.
Suntory’s other points came from a first-half try by Kensuke Hatakeyama and two penalties and two conversions by Tusi Pisi.

Canon’s two tries came via Takeru Fukui (a superb individual effort from the scrumhalf) and Adam Thomson, who latched onto an inch-perfect kick pass from Callum Bruce. Ryohei Mitomo added two conversions and a penalty goal.

However, two yellow cards (to Thomson and Shohei Yuzawa) proved to be their undoing as both Suntory tries came when Canon were a man down.

The league continues Saturday with Yamaha Jubilo (the only side with a perfect record) taking on last year’s champions Panasonic Wild Knights in Pool A.

Toshiba Brave Lupus and Kobe Kobelco Steelers – the two other unbeaten sides – take on Kubota Spears and Coca-Cola Red Sparks, in Pool A and B respectively.

Round 3 action sees one game on Friday Sept. 5 and seven games on Saturday, with Yamaha up against defending champions Panasonic Wild Knights.