Kitagawa Scores 100th Top League Try as Panasonic Top Kubota

TOKYO (Dec. 4) – Tomoki Kitagawa scored his 100th Japan Rugby Top League try Sunday as Panasonic Wild Knights beat Kubota Spears 34-25.

The veteran wing crossed in the 54th minute of the game at Ota Sports Park to become just the second player to reach the milestone.

Hirotoki Onozawa, formerly with Suntory Sungoliath but now with Canon Eagles, holds the record for most Top League tries with 109.

“I’d like to eclipse Onozawa-san’s 109 tries. I want to aim for the top,” Kitagawa said after the game.

Kitagawa was joined on the scoresheet by Keisuke Uchida, Akihito Yamada and Daniel Heenan with Takuya Yamasawa kicking four conversions and two penalty goals, as the Wild Knights overcame a red card to fullback Yasutaka Sasakura for dangerous play.

Patrick Osborne grabbed a brace of tries for Kubota on his Top League debut with Hideto Kondo also crossing the chalk and Hideyuki Moriwaki adding 10 points via his left boot.

The win ensures Panasonic stay in third spot in the standings on 38 points, 10 behind leaders Yamaha Jubilo and nine back of second-placed Suntory Sungoliath.

They were joined on 38 points by Kobe Kobelco Steelers, who trail the Wild Knights on points difference.

A hat-trick of tries from Tonisio Vaihu and a brace from Rakuhei Yamashita helped the Steelers, who have still to play Yamaha and Suntory, to a 60-21 win over Munakata Sanix Blues 60-21.

In the day’s other game, Coca-Cola Red Sparks handed Toshiba Brave Lupus their sixth loss in seven games.

First-half tries from Kota Yamashita, Naoki Sarugaku and Takeshi Katsuki helped Cola to their second win of the season.