Suntory, Toshiba advance in All-Japan C’ship

TOKYO (Feb. 15) – Suntory Sungoliath and Toshiba Brave Lupus advanced to the semifinals of the All-Japan Championship following two hard-fought wins Sunday at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.

Suntory set up a final-four clash with Japan Rugby Top League champions Panasonic Wild Knights thanks to a 22-10 victory over Kobe Kobelco Steelers.

Fourie du Preez, Hendrik Tui and Shinnosuke Kakinaga all crossed for Sungoliath with Tusi Pisi adding two conversions and a penalty goal.

Matt Vant Leven and Ryohei Yamanaka scored tries for Kobe, who confirmed earlier in the week that Allister Coetzee will coach them next season following the departure of Gary Gold to South Africa.

Toshiba will play league runners-up Yamaha Jubilo next week after they beat Teikyo University 38-24 in front of 14,196 fans in the second game of the day’s doubleheader.

Richard Kahui and Shuhei Oshima both bagged a brace of tries and there were further five pointers for Shin Ito and Takahiro Ogawa, who added four conversions.

The students trailed 31-5 at one stage but fought back to the delight of the crowd with Yasunari Isoda crossing twice and fellow wing Seiya Ozaki adding to Daisuke Hamano’s first-half effort. Rikiya Matsuda kicked two conversions.

The two semifinals will be played in Osaka on Feb. 22 at Hanazono Stadium, with the final slated for Feb. 28 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.