Panasonic edge Kubota to make playoffs

CHIBA (Dec. 20) – Panasonic Wild Knights became the fifth team overall and the first from Group A to make the Japan Rugby Top League 2015-16 playoffs.

The Wild Knights beat Kubota Spears 30-27 on Sunday at Fukuda Denshi Arena to ensure they cannot finish out of the top four of their group.

Tries from Ben McCalman and replacements Daniel Heenan and JP Pietersen eventually saw the two-time defending champions home.

Finau Phillip Searle, Takuya Miyata and Matt Saunders had earlier touched down for Kubota, who led 27-9 early in the second half.

With one round of games left in the regular season, Panasonic top the group with 26 points.

Toshiba Brave Lupus are second on 22 after they beat Kintetsu Liners 58-12.

Richard Kahui opened the scoring in the fifth minute and the Brave Lupus ran in a further eight tries with Shohei Toyoshima bagging a brace.

Suntory Sungoliath moved into third spot – level on points with NTT Communications Shining Arcs but with a better points difference – after they beat Ricoh Black Rams 37-20, with Schalk Burger named man-of-the-match.

Hendrik Tui crossed the whitewash twice for Andy Friend’s side, while Shota Emi continued his good form of late, the Suntory wing scoring his sixth try of the season.

In the day’s only Group B game, Toyota Industries Shuttles edged NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes 29-28 thanks to a try by Sione Vatuvei in the 77th minute, converted by Mark Gerrard, who finished the day with 19 points via five penalty goals and two conversions.