Suntory, Kobe Remain Unbeaten

TOKYO (Sept. 2) – Defending Japan Rugby Top League champions Suntory Sungoliath and Kobe Kobelco Steelers remain unbeaten for the 2017-18 campaign, but they did so in contrasting styles Saturday.

Kobe Kobelco Steelers went top of the Red Conference thanks to a 45-7 win over Kubota Spears.

Former Springbok Andries Bekker scored two tries and Codet Rei kicked five conversions and a penalty from as many attempts as Jim McKays’s side made it 14 points from a possible 15.

The Steelers lead the Red pool on points difference from Suntory, who needed a try after the final hooter from man-of-the-match Kosei Ono to beat Yamaha Jubilo 27-24 in front of 14,054 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.

The game marked the return to Tokyo of Rugby World Cup 2015 hero Ayumu Goromaru.

The 31-year-old Yamaha fullback, who was playing his 100th Top League game, kicked three conversions and a penalty from as many attempts and said despite the loss, “it was a good game (for the fans) to watch and will help develop the level of the Top League.”

Toyota Verblitz are third in the Red Conference with two wins to their win after they beat Canon Eagles 34-12.

Seiyu Kohara touched down twice for Verblitz, while Lionel Cronje weighed in with two conversions and a penalty goal.

Panasonic Wild Knights, who beat Toshiba Brave Lupus on Friday night, head the White Conference with three straight bonus-point wins.

Yamaha are second on 10 points, one ahead of NEC Green Rockets and Ricoh Black Rams.

NEC picked up their second win of the season as they downed Toyota Industries Shuttles 42-26 on the back of two tries from Maritino Nemani, as did Ricoh Black Rams who beat Munakata Sanix Blues 35-14, with Robbie Robinson scoring two tries, two conversions and two penalty goals,

Meanwhile, newly promoted NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes picked up their first win of the new campaign by beating Coca-Cola Red Sparks 28-24.