Panasonic, Suntory Keep Up Unbeaten Run

TOKYO (Oct. 1) – Panasonic Wild Knights and Suntory Sungoliath ensured Sunday they joined Kobe Kobelco Steelers in remaining unbeaten following six rounds of Japan Rugby Top League action.

The Wild Knights beat NTT Communications Shining Arcs 39-12 victory at Miyagi Stadium to pick up their sixth straight bonus-point win of the season.

Digby Ioane grabbed a hat-trick of tries with Akihito Yamada and Shohei Hirano also crossing the chalk.

Berrick Barnes kicked two penalty goals and three conversions and Takuya Yamasawa added the extras to Hirano’s effort to ensure Robbie Deans’s side top the White Conference with a maximum 30 points, 10 more than second-placed Yamaha Jubilo.

Suntory Sungoliath head the Red Conference with 29 points following their 69-7 hammering of NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.

Eleven different players touched for Suntory with Kosei Ono adding seven conversions to his five-pointer.

Jake White’s Toyota Verblitz are third in the Red Conference with 19 points, eight behind Kobe Kobelco Steelers (27) following their amazing 50-40 win over Kubota Spears.

Thirteen tries were scored at Green Stadium Shibata, with Gio Aplon grabbing a hat-trick for Verblitz.

In the day’s other game, Ruan Combrinck and Semisi Masirewa both touched down in the first half as Kintetsu Liners picked up their second win of the season with a 24-18 defeat of Munakata Sanix Blues, who have now lost five straight.