Yamaha, Panasonic advance to top group of 2nd stage

TOKYO (Oct.19) – Yamaha Jubilo and Panasonic Wild Knights made sure they will be in the top pool of the second stage of the Japan Rugby Top League season when they beat Kintetsu Liners and Toshiba Brave Lupus, respectively, on Saturday.

Ayumu Goromaru led the way for Yamaha scoring a try, four penalty goals and two conversions as Yamaha won 26-17 in Osaka, while Akihito Yamada touched down twice for Panasonic in their 40-22 win over Toshiba in Tokyo.

With one week remaining in the first stage, Yamaha top Pool B with 25 points with Panasonic second on 23 and Toshiba third on 19.

Kintetsu currently occupy fourth spot with 12 points, with Kubota Spears on 11, Canon Eagles on 10, Ricoh Black Rams on eight and Coca-Cola West Red Sparks on three, the bottom four sides all with a game in hand.

Wins for Cola over Canon and Ricoh over Kubota on Sunday would ensure Toshiba of a top-four finish with a week to spare.

Things are equally tight in Pool A with five teams battling it out for a top-four finish.

Two tries apiece from Todd Clever and Hiraku Tomoigawa helped NTT Communications Shining Arcs beat Kyuden Voltex 41-19 in the first game of the day at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground. The victory sees Comms in fourth spot on 19 points, one ahead of Toyota Verblitz, who beat NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes 20-7 in the early game at Hanazono Stadium.

The results mean that Toyota Shokki Shuttles, Docomo and Kyuden cannot finish in the top four and will play in the second tier group during the second half of the season.

Suntory Sungoliath currently top Pool A with 21 points, with NEC Green Rockets a point behind and Kobe Kobelco Steelers on 19. Suntory take on Kobe on Sunday, while NEC play Shokki.