Panasonic speed past Kubota

ASHIKAGA, Tochigi Pref. (Sept. 29) – Two second-half tries by Tomoki Kitagawa helped Panasonic Wild Knights remain in third place in Pool B of the Japan Rugby Top League on Sunday.

The 30-year-old wing touched down in the 50th and 65th minutes as Panasonic downed Kubota Spears 34-16 to make it two wins, a draw and a loss for 13 points, five behind Toshiba Brave Lupus, who head the group and three shy of Yamaha Jubilo.

Kitagawa was joined on the scoresheet by fellow speedsters JP Pietersen and Akihito Yamada with Tadahiro Miwa missing just one kick on his way to slotting four conversions and two penalties.

Pietersen’s try in the 14th minute was cancelled out by one by Yasuhiro Negishi in the 26th minute as the teams went into the break all square at 7-7.

Miwa and Harumichi Tatekawa then traded penalties before Kitagawa made the most of a perfect chip through by club captain Shota Horie, who had started the game on the bench.

Tatekawa then added a further two penalties with Miwa also knocking one over as Panasonic held onto a 20-16 lead with 15 minutes left on the clock.

But Panasonic closed out the strongest with Kitagawa and Yamada using their pace to seal the bonus-point win.

The defeat sees Kubota drop to seventh place on six points.