Panasonic win 3rd straight Top League title

TOKYO (Jan. 24) – Panasonic Wild Knights won their third straight Japan Rugby Top League title, and fourth overall, on Sunday.

Robbie Deans’ team prevailed in a thrilling final in front of 24,557 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, beating Toshiba Brave Lupus 27-26.

Tries from Tadasuke Nishihara, Shota Horie and JP Pietersen and three conversions and two penalties from playoff MVP Hayden Parker – who went 24-from-24 over the last three games – eventually saw Panasonic home.

But they had to withstand a tremendous fightback from Toshiba that almost saw the Brave Lupus win the game at the death.

Shohei Toyoshima’s effort in the 81st minute – to add to previous five-pointers from Michael Leitch,  Hiroshi Yamamoto and Nicolas Kraska – gave Francois Steyn the chance to hand Toshiba their sixth title.

But the South African’s kick just faded to the right, setting off celebrations in the Wild Knights camp.

“What can you say. What a great conclusion to a great season of rugby in Japan,” said Deans.

Panasonic led 17-14 at the break and stretched their lead to 27-14 with 62 minutes on the clock after Pietersen – who leaves Japan after three years with three league titles – finished off a good counter-attack launched by Fumiaki Tanaka.

But Toshiba never gave up, as both sides produced a classic final to end out a superb season for Japanese rugby, that began in September with the Brave Blossoms’ win over South Africa.

Earlier, Yamaha Jubilo beat Kobe Kobelco Steelers 26-22 to take third place, while in the Top Challenge Series, Munakata Sanix Blues beat Osaka Police 57-0 and Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars topped Kyuden Voltex 43-19.

Sanix will play NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes, Mitsubishi take on NEC Green Rockets, Kyuden face Coca-Cola Red Sparks and the police play Ricoh Black Rams next week with the winners playing in the top flight next season.