Yamaha Go into November Break Unbeaten

TOKYO (Oct. 29) – Yamaha Jubilo go into the November break atop of the Japan Rugby Top League standings having won their opening nine games.

On Saturday, Yamaha beat Coca-Cola Red Sparks 50-11 to make it 43 points from a possible 45.

Uwe Helu and Takeshi Hino celebrated their inclusion in the Japan squad for the November tests by grabbing a brace and one try, respectively. Male Sa’s also touched down twice and there were further five pointers from Duke Krishnan and Siale Piutau along with a penalty try with Gerhard van den Heever kicking four conversions and Tatsuhiko Otao one.

Suntory Sungoliath, who play Kubota Spears on Sunday, are second in the table with 37 points, four more than Kobe Kobelco Steelers, who fell to their second loss of the season.

Kobe’s only tip to Tokyo this season saw them lose 38-24 to NEC Green Rockets, for whom Scott Higginbotham, Teruya Goto, Jordan Payne and George Risale crossed the chalk.

Yu Tamura added four penalty goals and three conversions as the Green Rockets picked up their third win of the season.

Toyota Verblitz and NTT Communications both made it six wins for the season as they beat Ricoh Black Rams and Toshiba Brave Lupus, respectively.

Man-of-the-match Steven Yates scored what ended up being the deciding try as Verblitz won 20-16 to move them up to fifth spot on 29 points.

NTT meanwhile are sixth on 26 points thanks to their 34-29 victory, in which Jumpei Ogura celebrated his call-up to the Japan squad by bagging a full house.

The NTT flyhalf scored a try, four conversions, a penalty goal and a drop goal as he helped send Toshiba to their fifth loss in six games.

In the day’s other game, former Japan captain Takashi Kikutani was named man-of-the-match as Canon Eagles beat Munakata Sanix Blues 35-5.