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The conclusion of Round Eighteen of Japan Rugby League One means the regular season matches are over, and so is the season for 12 of the JRLO 26 teams across its three divisions, as they are either safe from potential relegation but also have not made the playoffs.
The conclusion of Round Eighteen of Japan Rugby League One means the regular season matches are over, and so is the season for 12 of the JRLO 26 teams across its three divisions, as they are either safe from potential relegation but also have not made the playoffs.
Lisala (2'), Gates (10'), Black (18'), Hughes (23')
Tries
Vailea (5', 12'), Taumohaapai (26')
Tamura (3', 11', 19', 24')
Conversions
Grayson (6', 13', 27')
Black (57', 67')
Penalties
On Friday night, the Replacement Battle-destined Urayasu D-Rocks pulled off a surprise win 34-21, over the Dynaboars, which will give them some confidence as they play to stay in the division against Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi. Another bonus is that the team had the services of Israel Folau for 30 minutes, and backrower Nathan Hughes scored his second try in as many weeks since joining from the Black Rams. The loss for the Dynaboars meant they were denied a seasonal best seventh win and finished ninth overall. They have also announced the departure of 18 players, including Kurt-Lee Arendse.
Tamanivalu (8'), Sugiyama (16'), Latu (25'), Frizell (42'), Toyoshima (52'), Ogawa (73'), Kuwayama (79')
Tries
Matsui (31', 75'), Tamura (36'), Kriel (70')
Mo'unga (9', 17', 26', 43', 52', 74')
Conversions
Tamura (32', 37'), Ogura (71', 76')
On Saturday, the disciplinary issues continued to hurt the Yokohama Canon Eagles as they finished the 49-28 loss to Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo with 14 on the park, and this follows three yellow cards in last week’s defeat to Kobelco Kobe Steelers.
Springbok Jesse Kriel was the man in the bin, in a game he also scored his 9th try this season, and he has suggested he will be back with the club next campaign. The Eagles have lost 12 times this season.
Defending champions Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo only pulled away in the second half, but the result ensured they could not be knocked off the top of the table by Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights.
Allende (3'), Osada (11'), Mitchell (15', 55'), Jager (36'), Onishi (64'), Sakate (69'), Yamasawa (72')
Tries
Matsushima (24'), Ozaki (61')
Yamasawa (4', 12', 16', 56', 65', 69'), Yamasawa (73')
Conversions
Kolbe (25', 62')
Yamasawa (19', 53')
Penalties
Kolbe (9')
The Wild Knights did tear apart a poor Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath 60-17 at Kumagaya. The losing side also had their international duo of Chesling Kolbe and Sam Cane in the bin towards the end of the game, in what was a record win for the Wild Knights in the fixture and their biggest win this season. Flyhalf Kyohei Yamasawa passed the 200-point mark and now sits on 209 for a personal tally of 23 points on the day.
Himeno (31'), Smith (46')
Tries
Olivier (10'), Hirose (20'), Tupa (41', 50'), Yamada (78')
Komura (32', 47')
Conversions
Foley (42'), Hirose (51', 79')
Penalties
Foley (28', 44')
Toyota Verblitz suffered their 13th loss, 37-14, against third-placed Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay. Spears Tongan-born backrower Finau Tupa grabbed a brace of tries in the final half hour, and the team should be too powerful for Suntory in the quarterfinal.
For the 10th-placed Verblitz, they announced a host of players will be leaving, including internationals Joseph Manu and Michael Hooper.
Gatland (17'), Ioasa (45')
Tries
Kitamura (12', 55'), Tupou (26'), Okumura (40')
Gatland (18', 45')
Conversions
Greene (12', 41', 56')
Gatland (6', 37', 65')
Penalties
Greene (61')
Shizuoka BlueRevs defeated their upcoming quarter-final opponent, Kobelco Kobe Steelers, 29-23 - which was their eighth win in their last nine matches. Coach Yuichiro Fujii selected a strong side including Kwagga Smith and Charles Piutau, but scrum half Shuntaro Kitamura continues his fantastic rookie regular season with two tries (his third brace this season).
Kobe coach Dave Rennie rested skipper Brodie Retallick, hooker George Turner and centre Ngane Laumape so the upcoming quarterfinal will be a different contest when the teams meet again.
Lucas (5', 72'), Fakatava (22'), Lotoahea (30'), Main (42'), Matsuhashi (48', 55'), Perenara (66'), Ikeda (68', 80'), Yamamoto (74')
Tries
Sulunga (11', 45'), Uemura (63'), Swanepoel (78')
Main (6', 23', 31', 67', 73'), Yamamoto (80')
Conversions
Oh (46')
In the weekend’s final fixture (the divisions’ 108th and final regular game for the season) Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo easily beat Replacement Battle-bound Mie Honda Heat 67-22. The result meant that the Black Rams equalled their previous best placing in a League One campaign in seventh.
All Black scrum half TJ Perenara was among the try-scorers, while ex-Queensland Reds fullback Isaac Lucas scored twice among the team’s 11 tries. Perenara played in every game in his debut JRLO season.
For Division 1, the results from the weekend mean we know who will be in those respective fixtures. In the playoffs, the matches next weekend move to the quarter-final stage with fourth-placed Shizuoka BlueRevs facing fifth-placed Kobelco Kobe Steelers on Saturday,17th May and on Sunday, third-placed Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay face sixth-placed Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath.
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo and Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights finished the division as first and second, respectively, and will only re-enter the playoff stages the following week in the semi-finals, with the Brave Lupus facing the winner of Saturday’s game and the Wild Knights facing the winner of Sunday's match.
The Replacement Battles are held over two legs on a home and away aggregate points format to determine the winner. Next weekend, Mie Honda Heat plays Hanazono Kintetsu Liners, and Urayasu D-Rocks will be defending their Division One status from the challenge of Division 2 winners Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi.
For the divisions below, Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks play the competition newcomers and Division 3 runners-up Sayama Secom Rugguts, while Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves of Division Two will play Division 3 champions Mazda SkyActivs Hiroshima.
Results
Friday 9 May
Urayasu D-Rocks 34-21 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars; at Tokyo
Saturday May 10
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo 49-28 Yokohama Canon Eagles; at Tokyo
Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights 60-17 Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath; at Saitama,
Toyota Verblitz 14-37 Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay; at Aichi
Kobelco Kobe Steelers 23-29 Shizuoka BlueRevs; at Hygo
Sunday May 11
Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo 67-22 Mie Honda Heat; at Tokyo
