Yamaha, Suntory Remain Unbeaten Following Big Wins

TOKYO (Sept. 17) – Two sides remain unbeaten in the 2016-17 Japan Rugby Top League following a weekend of pulsating action in Round 4.

Yamaha Jubilo top the standings on 19 points, while Suntory Sungoliath are a point behind after the two sides both picked up big wins.

A hat-trick of tries from scrumhalf Yuki Yatomi helped Yamaha defeat the previously unbeaten Toshiba Brave Lupus 40-6.

Yatomi was joined on the scoresheet by Takeshi Hino, Masatoshi Miyazawa and Shota Tanaka with Tatsuhiko Otao weighing in with four conversions and Gerhard van den Heever one.

Suntory also ran in six tries in a 45-15 victory over Panasonic Wild Knights in Tokyo.

Kensuke Hatakeyama and Takaaki Nakazuru crossed in the first half and they were followed onto the scoresheet by Shintaro Ishihara, Ryoto Nakamura, Hendrik Tui and Atsushi Hiwasa, with Kosei Ono converting all six and adding a penalty as well.

Kobe Kobelco Steelers ended Toyota Verblitz’s unbeaten start to the season by winning their game in Nagoya 27-8.

Ryang Jong Chu, Ryohei Yamanaka, Rakuhei Yamashita and Ryuta Yasui all crossed the chalk with Cody Rei kicking two conversions and a penalty.

Joining Kobe, Toshiba and Verblitz on three wins are NTT Communications Shining Arcs and Munakata Sanix Blues.

Tries by Takuya Ishibashi and Takuru Sato helped NTT to an 18-3 win over Kintetsu Liners, while Sanix edged Coca-Cola Red Sparks 19-16 in the Kyushu derby thanks to five-pointers from Bryce Robins, Siliva Ahio and Andrew Everingham.

Kubota Spears made it two wins for the season when they just got past Honda Heat 18-15, while NEC Green Rockets picked up their first with a 23-7 defeat of Toyota Industries Shuttles.