3 teams book their spots in LIXIL Cup

TOKYO (Dec 12) –  Yamaha Jubilo, Toyota Verblitz and Kobe Kobelco Steelers became the first sides to book the spots in the LIXIL Cup, the playoff tournament for the 2015-16 Japan Rugby Top League season.

The three sides all enjoyed big wins in Group B and made sure of their places with two games remaining in the regular season.

Yamaha, last year’s finalists, beat NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes 41-20, having trailed 13-10 at the break.

Five second-half tries saw Yamaha make it five wins from five games and they head the group on 24 points.

Verblitz are second on 21 points following a 34-3 win over NEC Green Rockets. Yu Deryck Thomas and Taiyo Ando both touched down twice for Toyota with Takaya Monji adding four conversions and two penalty goals.

Kobe are third on 20 points thanks to a 47-24 victory over Coca-Cola Red Sparks. Seven different players crossed for Kobe with Hideki Tanabe converting six of their efforts.

Canon Eagles can join the trio in the playoffs if they beat Toyota Industries Shuttles on Sunday.

Things a lot tighter in Group A with five teams still vying for the four playoff spots.

Panasonic Wild Knights saw their 100 percent start to the season come to an end when they were held 17-17 by Toshiba Brave Lupus in front of a crowd of 20,138 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.

Toshiba flanker Hiroshi Yamamoto’s second try of the game, converted by Francois Steyn two minutes before the end, ensured the two sides finished level.

Panasonic have 22 points, three more than Kintetsu Liners, who moved second thanks to a 40-22 win over Ricoh Black Rams, with Toetuu Taufa and Daiki Toyoda both picking a brace of tries.

Toshiba are third on 17 points, one more than Suntory Sungoliath and NTT Communications Shining Arcs.

Suntory head the Shining Arcs on points difference  thanks to a 38-5 win in the day’s first game in Tokyo, Japan flyhalf Kosei Ono picking up the man-of-the-match award for his role in Suntory’s win.