Top League Resumes as Yamaha, Suntory Remain Unbeaten

TOKYO (Dec. 3) – There was no change at the top of the Japan Rugby Top League on Saturday as the competition resumed after a four-week break.

Yamaha Jubilo remain top of the table thanks to a 63-7 win over Toyota Industries Shuttles, while Suntory Sungoliath are one point behind after they beat NTT Communications Shining Arcs 29-5.

Yamaha ran in nine tries in their win with Chikara Ito bagging a brace and Gerhard van den Heever weighing in with seven conversions.

The victory leaves Yamaha on 48 points from a possible 50, following 10 rounds of action.

Suntory are on 47 thanks to their win at Hanazono Rugby Ground.

Hendrik Tui touched down twice and there were also tries for Kosei Ono and George Smith.

Toyota Verblitz picked up their seventh win of the season to move on to 33 points as they edged Canon Eagles 25-21.

With both sides scoring three tries, it was the boot of Takaya Monji that proved the difference, the Toyota flyhalf banging over two conversions and two penalty goals.

Ricoh proved too strong for Honda Heat winning 34-10 with Takuya Takahira scoring a try, three conversions and a penalty goal as the Black Rams won for the fifth time this season.

In the day’s other game, NEC Green Rockets held on to beat Kintetsu Liners 38-31 thanks in part to a brace of tries from Japan Olympian Teruya Goto.