Japan Rugby Top League 2016-2017 Season: Round 12 Wrap-Up

In the first game of a double header at the Toyota Stadium in Aichi prefecture on Saturday, Toyota Industries Shuttles beat Honda Heat 49-24. This was a battle between the two bottom placed teams and with another loss for Honda, their situation becomes precarious with relegation prospects growing. The Heat led 10-8 at the break and then trailed 18-17 early in the second half, but fell off the pace after that. The Shuttles piled on six tries in the latter period to make sure they collected maximum points for the first time this season and consign the Heat to the basement of the league table. Wing So Kil-Ryong crossed for a brace of tries for the victors while former Japan international flanker Sione Vatuvei also grabbed a five pointer.

In the latter game at the Toyota Stadium, Toyota Verblitz lost 37-24 to Suntory Sungoliath. This was one of two big games this weekend with Toyota at home in a good position to inflict the first loss of the season on Suntory. However, the Sungoliath proved too strong in the end, outscoring the Verblitz five tries to three to keep their winning record intact. Suntory had the better of the opening half with wing Shota Emi scoring two of the three tries scored by his side as the Sungoliath got out to a 22-10 lead by halftime. Toyota stayed in the contest in the latter half with two converted tries, but the visitors had the runs on the board to take the win, albeit without the bonus point. The battle for the title is shaping up as a two-horse race between Suntory and Yamaha with these two sides facing off next weekend.

Also on Saturday, Kubota Spears beat Coca-Cola Red Sparks 36-17 at the Fukuda Arena in Chiba city, Chiba prefecture. Kubota notched up their fifth win of the season after also knocking over Ricoh last round. The Spears came into this game against Coca-Cola with a lot of confidence and it showed on the scoreboard. Kubota ran in six tries to two with wing Patrick Osborne the chief destroyer with two five-pointers to his name. The Spears got out to an early 19-0 lead that then became 26-7 at halftime. By that point, the Red Sparks were stretched and had little prospect of coming back for the win. Japan international centre Timothy Lafaele did his best on a beaten side with two conversions and a penalty goal putting his name on the score sheet.

In the first game of a double header at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Sunday, Canon Eagles defeated NEC Green Rockets 45-21. Canon came into this match on the back of a solid win over Kintetsu in Osaka last Saturday and they made it back-to-back wins for the first time this season. The Eagles have underperformed for much of this season, but they came out of the blocks hard and fast against the Green Rockets. Four converted tries, including a double to fullback Willie le Roux had the Eagles up 28-0 before the first quarter of the match was even completed. That then became 38-7 at halftime, killing off the game as a contest. For what it was worth, NEC won the second half 14-7, but the day belonged to the rampant Canon outfit.

In the latter game in Tokyo, Panasonic Wild Knights beat Ricoh Black Rams 45-17. The Wild Knights scored five tries to three in the win and although they failed to pick up a winning bonus point, they still have a chance of defending their Top League title. Ricoh put up tough resistance throughout the opening hour of the match, but Panasonic applied the pressure over the final quarter. The Knights led 20-10 at the break and then 27-17 midway through the latter period before running away on the scoreboard in the closing stages. Japan international wing Akihito Yamada scored a hat trick of tries while five-eighth Berrick Barnes kept the scoreboard ticking over with three conversions and four penalties. Meanwhile, hooker Yuki Mori got a double for the Black Rams.

On Sunday, Kintetsu Liners hosted Toshiba Brave Lupus at the Yanmar Nagai Stadium in Osaka with the visitors winning 58-12. Kintetsu finished in the top half of the draw last year, but so far this season, the Liners have only managed two wins for ten losses and sit well down the ladder. This season has not been a good one for Toshiba either, however, they turned things around this week with this emphatic eight tries to two win. It was vintage Toshiba on display with the Brave Lupus leading 24-0 at the break and then 45-0 at one point in the second half. Tight head prop Takuma Asama came away with two tries, as did playmaker Coenraad van Wyk with the rest of the tries shared around. Asama also picked up the man-of-the-match award.

In what was the match of the round, Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers hosted Yamaha Jubilo at the Noevir Stadium Kobe in Kobe city, Hyogo prefecture. Kobe had the opportunity to knock off the unbeaten Yamaha in their own back yard, but Yamaha took the honours 33-14. Yamaha had the better of a tight first half with a try to wing Chikara Ito and a conversion and two penalties to fullback Gerhard van den Heever giving the Jubilo a 13-0 lead at halftime. Hooker Takeshi Hino and centre Male Sau added further tries as the second half progressed to edge out the score to 27-3 by the hour. The Steelers fought back with two tries to narrow the gap to 27-15, but Van den Heever killed off the fight back with two late penalties. Suntory are the only other side without a loss and are just the one point behind Yamaha with the big showdown between these two sides taking place at the Yamaha Stadium next week.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Munakata Sanix Blues lost 33-7 to NTT Communications Shining Arcs at the Kirishima Hibiscus Stadium in Miyazaki city. NTT dominated proceedings throughout the match and never allowed Sanix to get a foothold. The Shining Arcs scored five tries to one with the try for the Blues coming late in the game. NTT had the game well under control at the completion of the first half with a comfortable 19-0 lead. This then became 33-0 at the hour mark, ensuring NTT would walk away with full points. Centre Takuya Ishibashi was the man of the match for NTT while centre Elton Jantjies contributed four penalties.