Kobe top Suntory to go 4th in standings

OSAKA (Dec. 7) – Tries by Andries Bekker and Craig Wing in the final 12 minutes helped Kobe Kobelco Steelers to their first win of the second stage of the 2014-15 Japan Rugby Top League season as they beat Suntory Sungoliath 20-10 on Sunday.

Bekker used his 2.08-metre, 121-kilogram frame to power over in the 68th minute, while Wing raced home after picking up an intercept nine minutes later to seal the win at Hanazono Stadium.

Ryohei Yamanaka weighed in with two conversions and a penalty and Kenji Shomen banged over a first-half drop goal.

Suntory’s points came from a try by Takamichi Sasaki, converted by Kosei Ono, who also kicked a penalty.

Kobe’s win sees them go fourth place in the Group A standings on eight points, three behind Toshiba, one back of Panasonic Wild Knights and the same as Yamaha Jubilo, who they trail on points difference.

Suntory are fifth on seven points, one more than Toyota Verblitz who beat NTT Communications Shining Arcs 37-15. Toyota’s victory came on the back of tries by the Hikosaka twins – Yoshikatsu and Masakatsu.

Ricoh Black Rams lead Group B after they beat Kintetsu Liners 34-8, Shota Yamamoto winning the man-of-the-match award for his brace of five-pointers.

Ricoh have 12 points and lead Kubota on points difference after the Spears beat Toyota Industries Shuttles 17-6 with Koji Mori scoring two tries.

NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes were the biggest winners of the day, running in six tries past Coca-Cola Red Sparks in a 41-5 victory, with Yoshimi Watanabe touching down twice.

Nemani Nadolo also grabbed a brace as NEC Green Rockets topped Munakata Sanix Blues 34-17.

Meanwhile, in Top Challenge 2, the first stage of the process that determines which team is automatically promoted to the Top League, Top Kyushu runners-up Chugoku Electric Power defeated Top West runners-up Osaka Police 24-17.