Verblitz Top Kobe to Reach Top Tier of Playoffs
TOKYO (Dec. 24) – Toyota Verblitz beat Kobe Kobelco Steelers 39-33 on Sunday to finish second in the Red Conference and book a spot in the playoffs to determine the Japan Rugby Top League champions.
Lionel Cronje converted his own five-pointer in the 81st minute to seal the win and also ensure he finished the regular season as top points scorer with 132, courtesy of five tries, 28 conversions, 16 penalty goals and a drop goal.
Earlier, Toshiba Brave Lupus had seen their hopes of a top-two finish disappear as they went down 28-24 to Suntory Sungoliath with Sean McMahon scoring the winning try in the 76th minute.
Red Conference winners Suntory take on Yamaha Jubilo in the playoffs on Jan. 6, while White Conference winners Panasonic Wild Knights will play Verblitz.
The Wild Knights finished the regular season unbeaten as they scored 38 unanswered points to come from behind to beat Yamaha 44-19.
Akihito Yamada touched down once for Panasonic to ensure he finished the regular season as the top try scorer with 12.
In the second bracket of the playoffs to determine fifth to eighth spot, Toshiba, third in the red group, will play NEC Green Rockets.
NEC finished fourth in the White Conference after two late penalties from Riaan Viljoen saw them go down 16-13 to NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.
Kobe, who finished two points behind Toshiba will take on Ricoh Black Rams, who finished their regular season with a 40-24 victory over Canon Eagles.
Canon will play Kubota Spears and NTT Communications Shining Arcs will take on Toyota Industries Shuttles in the first round of the battle for ninth to 12th spots in the league.
Two tries from Lionel Mapoe helped Kubota beat NTT Comms 23-17 on Sunday, while Sam Greene scored a try, conversion and penalty as Toyota Shokki beat Munakata Sanix Blues 17-15.
The bottom bracket of the playoffs see Kintetsu Liners play Sanix and NTT Docomo take on Coca-Cola Red Sparks after the Liners beat 36-20 on Sunday.
The bottom side is automatically relegated while the other three play one-off promotion/relegation playoff games against the teams finishing second to fourth in the Top Challenge League – Hino Red Dolphins, Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars and Kyuden Voltex.
Honda Heat won the TCL thanks to a 55-10 victory over Hino and are automatically promoted to the Top League.