Yamaha Beat Ricoh to Remain Unbeaten

TOKYO (Oct. 1) – Yamaha Jubilo kept up their unbeaten start to the 2016-17 Japan Rugby Top League season as they beat Ricoh Black Rams 47-14 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground on Saturday.

Tries from Masatoshi Miyazawa, Yuki Yatomi, Viliami Tahitua, Kyosuke Horie, Tatsuhiko Otao, Duke Krishnan and Gerhard van den Heever, who added six conversions, saw Yamaha move onto 24 points from a possible 25.

Ricoh, who trailed 33-0 at the break, fought back somewhat in the second half thanks to tries by Shuhei Matsuhashi and Masaki Watanabe, both of which were converted by Daniel Peters. But the defeat leaves them in 12th spot with nine points.

Kobe Kobelco Steelers moved into second spot – albeit temporarily if Suntory Sungoliath beat Canon Eagles on Sunday – thanks to a 41-5 win over Toyota Industries Shuttles.

Cody Rei contributed 16 points courtesy of two tries and three conversions, while Rakuhei Yamahsita also bagged a brace of tries.

Toyota Verblitz’s hopes of joining Kobe on 19 points were dashed as they went down 22-17 to NEC Green Rockets.

Ten points in the final six minutes – a try by replacement prop Mau Enoki and a conversion and penalty from Yu Tamura- saw the Green Rockets pick up their second win of the season and become one of four sides on nine points.

Joining them were Kintetsu Liners and Kubota Spears after the former beat the latter 29-20. Yasumasa Shigemitsu was the Liners’ hero, the veteran flyhalf scoring a try, three conversions and a penalty goal.

In the day’s other game, Coca-Cola Red Sparks picked up their first win of the season by beating winless Honda Heat 42-12.

Naoki Sarugaku crossed twice for Cola, for whom Tetsuya Fukuda was a perfect six-from-six with the boot.