Panasonic prove too strong for NTT Comms

TOKYO (Dec. 20) – Panasonic Wild Knights made sure they remained on top of the Japan Rugby Top League standings on Saturday as they beat NTT Communications Shining Arcs 45-14 in Group A.

In the second of the day’s two games at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, the Wild Knights ran in four first-half tries to secure their bonus point and then added two more in the second to take them to 19 points after four games of the second stage.

Akihito Yamada, who will play for the Western Force in the 2015 Super Rugby competition, touched down at the start of both halves, while Berrick Barnes added five conversions from as many attempts.

Tadasuke Nishihara, Naoki Kawamata and Keisuke Uchida also crossed for the Wild Knights ,who were also awarded a penalty try, with Nicholas Ealey adding a penalty and Tadahiro Miwa a conversion.

NTT’s points came from tries by Hayato Nishibashi and Takuro Suto, converted by Isaac Ross and Elton Jantjies, respectively.

“The result came off the back of a good first-half effort,” said Panasonic coach Deans. “”In the second we weren’t as well structured but we were able to give everyone a run except Shota (Horie) so that was good.”

Shining Arcs coach Rob Penney said he was proud of the way his team had fought back in the second half but said his side had been unable to build any pressure because of problems they had at scrum time.

In the earlier game of the doubleheader, NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes beat Ricoh Black Rams 27-26 in Group B.

Ricoh picked up two bonus points for scoring four tries and losing by seven or less but they could lose top spot in the second-tier rankings on Sunday to either NEC Green Rockets or Kubota Spears who face each other in one of the six games to be played.