Suntory Make It 12 Wins From 12 Games

TOKYO (Dec. 17) – Suntory Sungoliath made it 12 wins from 12 games in this season’s Japan Rugby Top League as they beat Toyota Verblitz 37-24 on Saturday at Toyota Stadium.

Shota Emi bagged a first-half brace and there were further tries for Yusuke Aoki, Ryoto Nakamura and Kosei Ono, who also kicked three conversions and two penalty goals.

The victory lifts Suntory in top place in the rankings with 56 points, though a win for Yamaha Jubilo (53 pts) over Kobe Kobelco Steelers on Sunday would see Katsuyuki Kiyomiya’s side regain pole position.

Verblitz, for whom Ruan Smith, Robbie Robinson and Yoshikatsu Hikosaka scored tries and Ryota Kabashima kicked three conversions and a penalty, fell to their fifth loss of the season, leaving them in fifth spot with 34 points.

Kubota Spears are ninth with 24 points following their 36-17 victory over Coca-Cola Red Sparks.

Patrick Osborne crossed twice and he was joined on the scoresheet by Kazuki Takamori, Matt Saunders, Jaco Kriel and Yuji Ito with Hideyuki Moriwaki adding three conversions.

Cola’s points came via tries from Shuichi Kinoshita and Sam Wykes, and two conversions and a penalty by Timothy Lafaele.

The day’s other game saw Toyota Industries Shuttles (ranked 15th going into Round 12) beat Honda Heat (16th) 49-24.

So Kilryong picked up two tries as the Shuttles jumped above Cola and Kintestu Liners to 13th in the rankings with 15 points.

Kintetsu, who play Toshiba Brave Lupus on Sunday, are 14th with 14 points, Cola are 15th with 12, while Honda remain last with 6.