Ricoh Pick Up 4th Win of Season

TOKYO (Sept. 29) – Ricoh Black Rams ensured they would finish Round 6 of this season’s Japan Rugby Top League in third place in the White Conference as they beat NEC Green Rockets 29-3 on Friday night.

The win was their fourth of the season and sees them on 19 points, six more than NEC, who are fourth with three wins and three losses to their name.

Such is the gap between fourth place and the four teams at the bottom of the conference that the Green Rockets will hold onto their spot irrespective of what happens in the six games played Saturday and Sunday.

Genki Hasegawa bagged a brace of tries for the Black Rams, and there were also tries for man-of-the-match Michael Broadhurst and Josh Mau, with Robbie Robinson banging over three conversions and a penalty.

“That’s the most consistent we have played all year,” said Ricoh head coach Matt Cockbain.

In the second game of the doubleheader at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground – and the last night game of the season – Toshiba Brave Lupus picked up their second victory of the season.

A try by Shohei Toyoshima in the 79th try saw Tomohiro Segawa’s men edge past Toyota Industries Shuttles 19-17.

The victory sees Toshiba jump from eighth to sixth place in the Red Conference with 10 points, though Kubota Spears and Kintetsu Liners are a point and two points behind, respectively, with a game in hand.

The Shuttles are sixth in the White Conference with two points, one more than Coca-Cola Red Sparks and Canon Eagles, who play each other on Saturday.

This season the league has been split into two conferences.

Teams play the seven other sides in their conference plus six from the other group to determine the rankings for the end of season playoffs, with the top four sides competing for the league title, which doubles as the All-Japan Championship.