Nakazuru Hat-trick Sees Suntory Past Sanix

TOKYO (Oct. 8) – Suntory Sungoliath kept up their unbeaten start to the 2016-17 Japan Rugby Top League season as they beat Munakata Sanix Blues 41-8 on Saturday.

A hat-trick of tries from Takaaki Nakazuru powered Suntory to their sixth win, with Juntaro Takemoto, Kotaro Matsushma and Hendrik Tui also weighing in with five pointers.

The victory sees Keisuke Sawaki’s team on 27 points, three more than Yamaha Jubilo who play Kubota Spears in one of three games on Sunday.

Kobe Kobelco Steelers made it five wins for the season as they outlasted Ricoh Black Rams in a 12-try thriller at Osaka’s Hanazono Stadium.

Kobe fullback Codey Rei’s 78th minute try, which he converted himself, eventually proved to be the difference between the two sides.

The Steelers are third in the standings with 23 points, four more than Panasonic Wild Knights, who beat NEC Green Rockets 51-26.

Takuya Yamasawa was the star of the show for the three time defending champions, the young flyhalf scoring a try, six conversions and three penalty goals.

Toyota Verblitz are fifth, also with 19 points, after they edged Kintetsu Liners 25-19, thanks to tries by Silivenusi Taumoepeau, Kohei Yoshida and Masakatsu Hikosaka.

In the day’s other game, Canon Eagles ensured Toyota Industries Shuttles remained winless as they won the first game at Kumagaya Sports and Culture Park 31-14, with Michael Bond capping a man-of-the-match performance with one of Canon’s three tries.

Sunday’s two other games see NTT Communications Shining Arcs play Coca-Cola Red Sparks and Toshiba Brave Lupus take on Honda Heat.