Jubilo, Verblitz Close in on Playoff Spots

YOKOHAMA (Dec. 16) – Yamaha Jubilo and Toyota Verblitz consolidated their second-place positions in their respective conferences in the Japan Rugby Top League on Saturday in Round 12 on the penultimate weekend of action.

With 12 games of the competition remaining – four on Sunday and eight on Dec. 24 – Yamaha Jubilo beat Munakata Sanix Blues 40-5 in the White Conference, while in the Red Conference, Toyota Verblitz topped NTT Communications Shining Arcs 22-15.

This season the league has been split into two conferences of eight teams.

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.

There are three other playoff blocks to determine fifth to 16th positions with the bottom side automatically relegated.

Shota Tanaka grabbed a hat-trick of tries and Yuya Oda touched down twice as Yamaha made sure they head into the final weekend of the regular season with 46 points, seven more than Ricoh Black Rams, who play group winners Panasonic Wild Knights on Sunday.

Two tries from debutant Ryuta Iiyama helped NEC beat Canon Eagles 25-20 as the Green Rockets made sure they need just a point next week to finish fourth in the White group.

Verblitz celebrated Toshizumi Kitagawa’s 150th Top League by coming from behind to beat NTT Comms.

Kazuki Himeno, Jamie Henry and Gio Aplon all crossed the chalk as Jake White’s team made it 42 points for the season, five behind Suntory Sungoliath and six more than third-placed Kobe Kobelco Steelers, who play the leaders Sunday.

In the day’s other game between the two teams that finished their Round 12 action in sixth place in their respective conferences, NTT Red Hurricanes picked up their fifth win of the campaign with a 38-19 defeat of Toyota Industries Shuttles, who have won just once this season.