Big win sees Panasonic regain top spot

OTA, Gunma Prefecture (Dec. 28) – Three tries from Springbok JP Pietersen and two from Japan wing Akihito Yamada saw Panasonic Wild Knights beat Suntory Sungoliath 45-8 on Sunday and regain top spot in the Japan Rugby Top League standings.

Man-of-the-match Berrick Barnes weighed in with four penalties and four conversions and Ryu Koliniasi Holani put in a superb defensive effort as the Wild Knights stretched their unbeaten run at Ota Sports Park — their home ground – to 24.

Tusi Pisi scored a try and penalty for Sungoliath, who had plenty of other opportunities to score only to be thwarted by Holani and co.

The win sees Panasonic on 24 points, three more than Toshiba Brave Lupus, who beat Canon Eagles 31-10 in the day’s other Group A game.

Richard Kahui was among the four Toshiba try scorers as was Takehisa Usuzuki, who was named man-of-the-match.

Kobe Kobelco Steelers are third on 19 points, while Yamaha Jubilo and Suntory both have 17, the former having a better points difference.

Meanwhile in Group B, Ricoh Black Rams remained top thanks to a 28-26 win over Kubota Spears.

The reliable right boot of Dan Peters proved to be the difference between the two sides, the Ricoh fullback kicking three penalty goals and converting two of Ricoh’s three tries.

NEC’s 40-14 victory over NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes saw them jump above Kubota in the standings, Nili Latu and Yu Tamura both crossing twice for the Green Rockets.

Elsewhere, Coca-Cola Red Sparks made sure they will avoid the automatic relegation spot by defeating Toyota Industries Shuttles 39-17, while Kintetsu Liners edged bottom side Munakata Sanix Blues 43-32 with Yasumasa Shigemitsu scoring two tries, five conversions and a penalty goal.