Wrap: The Fifty-fourth Japan Rugby Championship 2017

The Fifty-fourth Japan Rugby Championship 2017
Semi-final Results

In 2017, the Fifty-fourth Japan Rugby Championship pits the top three finishing Top League sides and the university champion against each other. Suntory Sungoliath, Yamaha Jubilo and Panasonic Wild Knights finished first, second and third respectively while Teikyo University are the university champions. The condensed Top League season, along with the presence of the Japan Sunwolves in Super Rugby contributed to the abbreviation of the Japan Rugby Championship.

In the semi-finals, second-placed Top League side Yamaha Jubilo lost 36-24 to Panasonic Wild Knights who finished third, while Suntory Sungoliath as the Top League champions beat university champions Teikyo University 54-29.


Recent Japan Rugby Championship Finals

2017 (54th): Suntory v Panasonic
2016 (53rd): Panasonic 49 d Teikyo University 15
2015 (52nd): Yamaha 15 d Suntory 3
2014 (51st): Panasonic 30 d Toshiba 21
2013 (50th): Suntory 36 d Kobe 29
2012 (49th): Suntory 21 d Panasonic 9
2011 (48th): Suntory 37 d Sanyo 20
2010 (47th): Sanyo 22 d Toyota 17
2009 (46th): Sanyo 24 d Suntory 16
2008 (45th): Sanyo 40 d Suntory 18
2007 (44th): Toshiba 19 d Toyota 10
2006 (43rd): Toshiba 6 drew with NEC 6 (Joint champions)
2005 (42nd): NEC 17 d Toyota 13
2004 (41st): Toshiba 22 d Kobe 10


Panasonic Wild Knights (Top League 3) 36 d Yamaha Jubilo (Top League 2) 24

Panasonic 36 – Tries: Kenki Fukuoka 2, Yasuki Hayashi, Akihito Yamada and Richard Buckman; Conversions: Takuya Yamasawa 4; Penalty: Takuya Yamasawa d

Yamaha 24 – Tries: Yuki Yatomi, Shota Tanaka, Yuya Odo and Chikara Ito; Conversions: Gerhard van den Heever.

Date: Saturday, 21 January 2017
Venue: Hanazono Rugby Ground, Osaka
Kick-off: 12:05
Referee: Tatsuya Matsuoka
Halftime: Panasonic 33 – Yamaha 7
Attendance: 7,122
Conditions: Fine and no breeze. Surface good.

Wrap

Panasonic Wild Knights moved one step closer to defending their Japan Rugby Championship title after they defeated Yamaha Jubilo 36-24 in the first semi-final of the 54th Japan Rugby Championship 2017 at the Hanazono Rugby Ground in Osaka on Saturday.

Yamaha beat Panasonic 24-21 in the opening game of the Top League season at Chichibu last August, but on this occasion, it was all Panasonic. A brace to left wing Kenki Fukuoka and other five pointers to inside centre Yasuki Hayashi, right wing Akihito Yamada and outside centre Richard Buckman put the Wild Knights out to a 33-7 lead at the break, and from there they were unbeatable.

Yamaha fought back hard in the second half with tries to left wing Shota Tanaka, lock Yuya Odo and right wing Chikara Ito to go with the one scored by halfback Yuki Yatomi in the first half. However, Panasonic had the runs on the board to see off the Yamaha fightback and won the semi-final by 12 points when time was called.

Panasonic are now hunting for their sixth national crown when they play Suntory in the final next Sunday in Tokyo.


Suntory Sungoliath (Top League Champion) 54 d Teikyo University (University Champion) 29

Suntory 54 – Tries: Kosei Ono, Naoki Ozawa 2, Shunta Nakamura, penalty try, Takaaki Nakazuru, Kotaro Matsushima 2; Conversions: Kosei One 7 d

Teikyo 29 – Tries: four; Conversions: three; Penalty: one.

Date: Saturday, 21 January 2017
Venue: Hanazono Rugby Ground, Osaka
Kick-off: 14:05
Referee: Akihisa Aso
Halftime: Suntory 21 – Teikyo 21
Attendance: 8,685
Conditions: Fine and no breeze. Surface good

Wrap

Suntory Sungoliath outscored Teikyo University eight tries to four to record an impressive 54-29 win in the second semi-final of the 54th Japan Rugby Championship in the latter game in Osaka on Saturday.

As expected the Top League champions were far too strong for the university champions, even though the scores were locked at 21-all at the completion of the first half. Flanker Naoki Ozawa and fullback Kotaro Matsushima scored doubles for Suntory while five-eighth Kosei Ono, hooker Shunta Nakamura, wing Takaaki Nakazuru scored the other tries with referee Akihisa Aso also awarding a penalty try. Ono finished off the scoring with seven conversions.

The students could not maintain the intensity in the second half and this allowed a patient and determined Suntory side to take control and run in five further tries.

Suntory are yet to taste defeat this season after winning the Top League title undefeated and they now face Panasonic in the decider in Tokyo next Sunday. Suntory will be looking for their seventh national title with the last one back in 2013.

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