Top League Promotion and Relegation Play-offs: Wrap-up
Coca-Cola Red Sparks (Top League 14) 27 drew with Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars (Top Challenge League 3) 27
Date: Saturday, 20 January 2018
Venue: Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu
Kick-off: 11.30
Referee: Kyosuke Toda
Halftime: Coca-Cola 7 – Mitsubishi 14
Wrap-up
Coca-Cola Red Sparks retained their place in Top League for next season, but they had to do it the hard way. Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars held a ten-point lead going into the final ten minutes of play, only to see the Red Sparks snatch a draw with two late tries. Replacement hooker Mitsumasa Harayama barged over in the seventy-sixth minute and then centre Arata Nanri saved the day with a try in the final minute of the season. The determined fightback from Coca-Cola saw the sides locked up at 27-all when time was called, but a draw was enough to see the Red Sparks through. The Dynaboars led throughout with first half tries to halfback Kenta Nishidate and flanker Daniel Linde helping the Mitsubishi side to a 14-7 lead at the break. As the second half progressed, the lead stretched out to 17-7 and then 27-17 with the clock ticking down. The Dynaboars looked to be on track for a memorable return to Top League, but the Red Sparks dug deep when it mattered to salvage their season and stay up in Top League for another year.
Munakata Sanix Blues (Top League 13) 40 d Kyuden Voltex (Top Challenge League 4) 21
Date: Saturday, 20 January 2018
Venue: Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu
Kick-off: 14.00
Referee: Shuhei Kubo
Halftime: Sanix 35 – Kyuden 7
Wrap-up
Munakata Sanix Blues were too strong for Kyuden Voltex with the Blues securing another season in Top League with an emphatic 40-21 win in their one-off promotion and relegation play-off. Sanix outscored their opponents six tries to three and in effect were never really in threat of losing. Centres Andre Esterhuizen and Silva Ahio did most of the damage for Sanix with both players scoring a brace while wing Andrew Everingham and halfback Kohei Hamazato scored the other five pointers. The Blues led 35-7 at the completion of the first half and then pushed on to 40-7 before Kyuden finished with a late flurry. Converted tries to replacement Yuki Yamada and wing Yasunari Isoda made the final score that much more respectable, but in the end, it was a comfortable win for Sanix.
Hino Motors Red Dolphins (Top Challenge League 2) 20 d NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes (Top League 15) 17
Date: Saturday, 20 January 2018
Venue: Yanmar Stadium, Osaka
Kick-off: 13.00
Referee: Masaya Kato
Halftime: Hino 17 – Docomo 5
Wrap-up
Hino Red Dolphins made history in Osaka with this gritty 20-17 win over NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes putting them into Top League for the very first time in 2018-19. Although the game went down to the wire, Hino practically led from start to finish, but the lead was never enough to get comfortable. Wings Kazuto Ozawa and Shogo Shinoda scored first half tries to put the Red Dolphins out to a 17-5 lead at halftime. The NTT side gradually fought their way back into the contest in the second half with tries to centre Kim Yon-hi and replacement Yoshihito Sato locking up the scoreboard at 17-all. Flyhalf Shigenori Someyama then knocked over a penalty for Hino in the thirty-third minute and from there the challengers hung on until the final whistle. It was a devastating result for Docomo who will now play out of the Top Challenge League next season after only one season back in Top League.