The Fifty-fifth National Championship 2018/Top League Title Play-off: SF Wrap-up

In 2018, the Fifty-fifth National Championship also acts as the Top League positional play-offs.

In the semi-finals, Suntory Sungoliath as the top side in the Red Conference beat Yamaha Jubilo as the runner-up in the White Conference while Panasonic Wild Knights as the top side in the White Conference beat Toyota Verblitz as the runner-up in the Red Conference. Suntory and Panasonic play out the final.

Panasonic Wild Knights (White Conference 1) 17 d Toyota Verblitz (Red Conference 2) 11

Panasonic 17 – Tries: Kenki Fukuoka and Digby Ioane; Conversions: Takuya Yamasawa 2; Penalty: Takuya Yamasawa d

Toyota 11 – Try: Jamie Henry; Penalties: Lionel Cronje 2.

Date: Saturday, 6 January 2018
Venue: Yanmar Stadium, Osaka
Kick-off: 14:00
Referee: Taku Otsuki
Halftime: Panasonic 14 – Toyota 3
Attendance: 10,099
Conditions: Sunny, partly cloudy, surface good

Suntory Sungoliath (Red Conference 1) 49 d Yamaha Jubilo (White Conference 2) 7

Suntory 49 – Tries: Daishi Murata 2, Kotaro Matsushima 2, Shota Emi, Matt Giteau and Ryoto Nakamura; Conversions: Matt Giteau 6 and Ryoto Nakamura d

Yamaha 7 – Try: Male Sa’u; Conversion: Ayumu Goromaru.

Date: Saturday, 6 January 2018
Venue: Yanmar Stadium, Osaka
Kick-off: 16:00
Referee: Shuhei Kubo
Halftime: Suntory 28 – Yamaha 0
Attendance: 11,167
Conditions: Sunny, partly cloudy, surface good