Kobe, NTT Comms Draw and Ricoh Win as TL Season Resumes
TOKYO (Dec. 2) – The Japan Rugby Top League resumed Saturday following a five-week break with the first draw of the season and a good win for Ricoh Black Rams.
Played in front of 9,784 fans, NTT Communications Shining Arcs and Kobe Kobelco Steelers produced a nailbiter as they played out a 28-28 draw in the second game of a doubleheader at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.
Two tries from former Wallaby Adam Ashley-Cooper looked to have given Kobe the win. But two yellow cards after the final hooter saw the game continue for an extra five minutes and a try from Amanaki Lelei Mafi, converted by Jumpei Ogura eventually saw the points split.
“I guess Kobe will feel like that was a loss while we feel like it was a win,” said NTT coach Rob Penney.
“We did a lot of good things but to be honest we were not accurate enough at pressure moments and that’s what let us down,” said Kobe coach Jim McKay, whose side had lost three straight before the autumn test break.
The result means Kobe remain in second place in the Red Conference with 31 points. But they are just three points above Toyota Verblitz, who take on Coca-Cola Red Sparks on Sunday, with the Shining Arcs a further three points back in fourth place.
In the first game of the doubleheader, Ricoh Black Rams kept up their hopes of a place in the playoffs to determine the league champion with a 34-12 win over NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.
Tamati Ellison scored a try and two conversions for the Black Rams who are in third spot in the White Conference with 34 points, one behind Yamaha Jubilo who take on Toshiba Brave Lupus on Sunday.
The Red Hurricanes, meanwhile, are sixth in the White Conference with 17 points.
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.