Verblitz Run in 8 Tries Past Cola

TOKYO (Oct. 23) – Toyota Verblitz moved into fifth spot in the Japan Rugby Top League standings Sunday thanks to 57-3 win over Coca-Cola Red Sparks.

Hiroshi Sugawara’s side ran in eight tries, four in each half, to leave Cola in 14th spot with 8 points.

Verblitz had a particularly productive day from their foreign-born players with Ruan Smith, Steven Yates, Wycliff Palu, Fetuani Lautaimi, Dominic Day and Ben Lucas all crossing the chalk.

Toshizumi Kitagawa and Masakatsu Hikosaka also grabbed five-pointers with Ryota Kabashima kicking seven conversions and a penalty goal.

Shuhei Matsuhashi’s third try of the day helped Ricoh Blacks Rams to a 33-28 win over Toshiba Brave Lupus, a fourth loss in five games for Teppei Tomioka’s side.

Also touching down for Ricoh were Daisuke Komatsu and Amanaki Lotoahea, while Daniel Peters kicked four conversions.

Toshiba’s points came from tries by Cory Jane, Michael Leitch, Futoshi Mori and Shohei Toyoshima with Takahiro Ogawa converting all four efforts.

The points were shared in the day’s other game as NEC Green Rockets and Kubota Spears drew 15-15.

Yu Tamura scored all his side’s points in the first half, courtesy of two tries, a conversion and a penalty, and then saw his kick to win the game after the hooter drift wide.

Katoni Otukolo and Takuro Takahashi both crossed the chalk for Kubota with Hideyuki Moriwaki converting the first and kicking a 42nd-minute penalty as the Spears fought back from 15-0 down.

Top League action takes place next weekend across Japan before taking a four-week break for the November tests.