Yamaha, Suntory Remain Unbeaten

TOKYO (Oct. 15) – Yamaha Jubilo and Suntory Sungoliath both kept their unbeaten records intact Saturday as five games were played in the Japan Rugby Top League.

Yamaha downed Honda Heat 47-25 to remain top of the standings with 34 points.

Chikara Ito bagged a hat-trick of tries and there were also five-pointers for Rocky Havili, Takeshi Hino, Uwe Helu and Gerhard van den Heever, who added six conversions.

Finau Tupa, Naoki Motomura and Lomano Lava Lemeki, who was recently named in the extended Japan sqaud, touched down for Honda.

Suntory’s 33-14 win over NEC Green Rockets sees them trail Yamaha by 2 points with 32 from a possible 35.

Kosei Ono was named man-of-the-match at Kashiwanoha Park Stadium for an assured performance at flyhalf and three conversions from four attempts.

Nigel Ah Wong, Shohei Takeshita, Takaaki Nakazuru, Kotaro Matsushima and Hendrik Tui all crossed the chalk for Suntory with Ryoto Nakamura kicking the final conversion.

The biggest shock of the day came at Kariya’s Wave Stadium where Toyota Industries Shuttles picked up their first win of the season.

A last-minute try by Kento Matsui, converted by Sam Greene, saw Shokki beat Toshiba Brave Lupus 27-22.

Greene had earlier kicked two penalties and converted tries by JJ Engelbrecht and Mark Gerrard.

Ricoh Black Rams picked up their third win of the season as they defeated Kintetsu Liners 31-24 thanks to tries by Yuki Mori and Amanaki Lotoahea in the final five minutes.

Kubota Spears also picked up their third vicory of the season as they edged Munakata Sanix Blues 28-27, with Olympian Kazuhiro Goya grabbing a brace of tries.