Panasonic close in on playoff spot

TOKYO (Jan. 4) – Panasonic Wild Knights closed in on a top-four finish in the Japan Rugby Top League on Saturday with a 53-3 win over Canon Eagles.

The victory, which was revenge for their 23-18 loss in the second week of the first stage, means the Wild Knights need just one point from two games to clinch a playoff berth.

A win for Suntory Sungoliath over Toshiba Brave Lupus on Sunday would see Panasonic book a spot in the semifinals with two weeks to spare.

Turning around with a 13-3 lead, the Wild Knights stepped up a gear in the second half to score a further six tries to remain undefeated in Group A.

You Young Nam crossed twice and there were further five pointers for Sione Vatuvei, Daniel Heenan, JP Pietersen, Shota Horie and Berrick Barnes, who also added five conversions and two penalties. Nick Ealey added the final conversion.

In the day’s second game at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Kobe Kobelco Steelers downed NEC Green Rockets 33-17 to keep their playoff chances alive.

Craig Wing and Jaque Fourie were among the try scorers for Kobe, for whom Yuta Imamura grabbed a brace.

The win lifts Kobe into fourth spot on 17 points, 10 behind Panasonic, and two ahead of Toshiba.

Meanwhile in Group B, Kubota Spears ruined Takuro Miuchi’s big day by beating NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes 28-12.

The former Japan captain was making his 100th Top League appearance but it was in a losing cause as Kubota never trailed. The Spears top the standings with 23 points, while Docomo stay rooted to the bottom of the table in the automatic relegation spot with just four points.