Playoff quartet decided as Sanix get relegated
TOKYO (Jan, 11) -Kobe Kobelco Steelers will play Yamaha Jubilo and Panasonic Wild Knights will take on Toshiba Brave Lupus in the semifinals of the Lixil Cup following an exciting final round of action in the Japan Rugby Top League that saw Munakata Sanix Blues relegated.
Three tries from Fraser Anderson, two by Rakuhei Yamashita and five conversions, three penalties and a drop goal from Daisuke Yamamoto helped Kobe to a 47-8 win over Canon Eagles and first place in the standings.
The Steelers finished the regular season on 29 points, the same as Panasonic, but with a better points difference after the Wild Knights lost 26-18 to Yamaha.
A last-minute try by Tomoki Kitagawa gave Berrick Barnes the chance to close the gap to less than seven – thereby earning the Wild Knights a bonus point – but the Australian missed the kick, handing the No. 1 seeding to Kobe.
Toshiba secured their place in the final four with a 31-14 win over NTT Communications Shining Arcs, two penalty tries in the opening 21 minutes laying the foundations for the win.
In the day’s other Group A game, Suntory Sungoliath beat Toyota Verblitz 40-19 but miss out on the playoffs for the first time after finishing a point below Yamaha.
Both teams along with NTT Comms and Canon will now take part in the wild card tournament for two spots in the All-Japan Championship along with the top four finishers in Group B.
Ricoh Black Rams topped the second-tier group by downing Coca-Cola Red Sparks 38-22, NEC were second thanks to a 9-7 win over Toyota Industries Shuttles, NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes third following a 46-33 win over Sanix and Kintetsu Liners fourth even they lost 19-10 to Kubota Spears.
The defeats for Sanix and Toyota Shuttles saw them both finish on eight points but Sanix’s inferior points difference means they drop back into Top Kyushu, while the sides finishing fifth, sixth and seventh in Group B face relegation/promotion playoff games against the sides finishing second to fourth in the Top Challenge Series.