Panasonic crowned Top League champions

TOKYO (Feb. 1) – Panasonic Wild Knights won the LIXIL Cup final and were crowned 2014-15 Japan Rugby Top League champions Sunday thanks to a 30-12 win over Yamaha Jubilo.

Playoff MVP Akihito Yamada scored a superb try and set up one for Berrick Barnes and veteran wing Tomoki Kitagawa grabbed a brace as the Wild Knights won their second straight title, and third overall, their first coming in 2010-11 when they played in the red of Sanyo.

“It means an awful lot,” Panasonic coach Robbie Deans said immediately after the final whistle. “The players have worked hard and are good friends and that’s what it took today. Yamaha asked a lot of us and every man was used and every man was needed. I am very proud of them.”

Barnes opened the scoring with a penalty in the third minute before Yamaha grabbed the first try of the game through Kyosuke Horie following a well worked driving maul.

Panasonic hit back though and a kick pass from Barnes saw Kitagawa go over before Yamada produced two bits of magic.

The left wing made a great break down the left flank and then put in a clever kick for Barnes to score before his pace and angle of run saw him race over for his side’s third try in the 28th minute.

Yamaha wing Shinji Nakazono closed the gap to eight with a try in the 33rd minute before Barnes closed out the half with a penalty as the Wild Knights led 23-12.

The second half saw defence to the fore and the only score came four minutes from time with Kitagawa making the most of a good offload from JP Pietersen to seal the win.

“We had our chances but couldn’t finish them off,” rued Yamaha coach Katsuyuki Kiyomiya.