Kobe edge past Canon

KOBE (Nov. 15) – The opening weekend of the 2015-16 Japan Rugby Top League season came to a conclusion Sunday with Kobe Kobelco Steelers edging Canon Eagles 23-18 in Group B.

The victory continued the unbeaten run under new head coach Allister Coetzee, the Steelers having gone undefeated in the league’s preseason tournament.

Kobe opened the scoring in the sixth minute when 2011 Rugby World Cup winner Andy Ellis crossed the whitewash. Ryohei Yamanaka added the extras and then converted a penalty try in the 21st minute as the Steelers went 14-0 up.

But Canon hit back with fullback Michael Bond going over for a try and Ryohei Mitomo adding a penalty to make it 14-8 at the break.

The second half was even closer with just a point between the two sides.

Mitomo closed the gap with a second penalty before Yamanaka banged over three penalties in 17 minutes.

South Africa fullback Willie Le Roux then scored on his debut for the Eagles with Mitomo’s conversion putting five points between the team.

But there was to be no more scoring so Canon had to settle for a bonus point for losing by seven or less, while Kobe finished the day with 4 points for the win.

Round 2 of the Top League sees seven games played on Nov. 21 and one on Nov. 22.