Sanix promoted to Top League, NTT Docomo relegated

FUKUOKA (Jan. 30) – Munakata Sanix Blues will take part in the 2016-17 Japan Rugby Top League season following a 19-15 win over NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes on Saturday.

This year’s season came to a conclusion Saturday with the sides finishing 13th to 16th in the league taking on the three regional champions and best runners-up in one-off promotion/relegation games.

In Fukuoka, a try from Benjamin Yagi, a penalty and conversion from Dwayne Sweeney and two penalties from Hiroshi Tashiro helped Sanix, who were relegated last year, bounce straight back to the top flight.

A last-minute try by NTT replacement hooker Masaki Midorikawa set up a grandstand finish but Sanix held on for the win.

There was a thrilling finish in the second game at Level-5 Stadium too, with Coca-Cola Red Sparks drawing 14-14 with Kyuden Voltex, the Top West runners-up.

With 80 minutes up and the rules determining no extra-time the Red Sparks – for whom Tim Bateman crossed twice – were declared the winners and kept their Top League place.

Meanwhile at Kumagaya Rugby Ground, on a field that had been cleared of overnight snow, NEC Green Rockets and Ricoh Black Rams both kept their places in the league.

Tries from Makoto Tosa and Sunao Takizawa helped NEC beat Top East champions Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars 17-3, while Ricoh ran in 12 tries in a 76-0 victory over Osaka Police, winners of Top West.