Toshiba pick up 2nd straight win

KAGOSHIMA (Dec. 8) Toshiba Brave Lupus made sure they became the third top-tier side to start the second stage of the Japan Rugby Top League with two straight wins when they beat Canon Eagles 26-24 on Sunday.

Scrumhalf Takahiro Ogawa kicked 16 points, to follow up on his 17-point haul last weekend against Toyota Verblitz, as Toshiba picked up four points to make it 10 for the stage, four behind leaders Suntory Sungoliath and three back of Panasonic Wild Knights.

Ogawa banged over three first-half penalties as the Brave Lupus went into the break leading 9-3 at Kamoike Stadium.

Canon, who opened the second stanza with a win over NEC Green Rockets, fought back in the second half, with 2011 Rugby World Cup winners Adam Thompson and Isaia Toeava both scoring tries. Ryohei Mitomo added the extras to make it 17-9 to the Eagles.

But Toshiba, who finished as runners-up to Suntory last year, then hit back to secure the win. Ogawa started the fightback with his fourth penalty, before replacement back Hiroki Yoshida and Shohei Toyoshima went over to make it 26-17.

Canon finished the game stronger with Tokiro Harada crossing a minute from time to ensure they finished with a bonus point for losing by seven or less points.

In the second-tier Group B, Kade Poki crossed the whitewash twice as Kubota Spears defeated Kyuden Voltex 25-14, while Coca-Cola West Red Sparks downed NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes 18-17 on the back of two first-half tries by Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu.