RUGBY IN JAPAN NEWSLETTER Vol.10, No.39

Congratulations RIJ Newsletter 10th Anniversary 2003-2013

CONTENTS

• Top League 2013-14 Stage One Round Four Preview

RiJ looks at round four of the 2013-14 Top League season.

Enjoy the read.

Stage One, Round Four

Pool A

Date	Team	Score	Team	K/O	Venue
Sat, 28 Sep 2013	Toyota Industries		Kobe	17:00	Kariya, Aichi
	Kyuden		Suntory	16:00	Kumamoto, Kumamoto
	NTT Comm.		Toyota	17:00	Chichibu, Tokyo
	NEC		NTT Docomo	19:00	Chichibu, Tokyo

 

Pool B

Date	Team	Score	Team	K/O	Venue
Fri, 27 Sep 2013	Ricoh		Toshiba	19:00	Chichibu, Tokyo
Sat, 28 Sep 2013	Canon		Kintetsu	15:00	Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi
	Coca-Cola		Yamaha	17:00	Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi
Sun, 29 Sep 2013	Panasonic		Kubota	15:00	Ashikaga, Tochigi

Stage One, Round Four Preview

Pool A

At the Wave Stadium Kariya in Kariya city in Aichi prefecture on Saturday, Toyota Industries Shuttles play Pool A leaders Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers. The Shuttles had their one and only season in Top League back in 2010-11 where they finished last on the table and were relegated. Nevertheless it has been a lot of pain for a lot of gain for the determined Shuttles and after a close loss to Toyota in the opening round they suffered another close loss to NTT Docomo the next weekend before more of the same in the 28-26 loss to NTT Communications in Miyagi last round. The five bonus points they have picked up along the way is as good as a win but they will have their work cut out against the Steelers. Kobe had their best season last year since taking the inaugural Top League title way back in 2003-4 when they finished fourth on the table. The Steelers beat NEC with a gutsy performance in the opening round and then beat Kyuden before making it three in a row with a big 48-3 win over NTT Docomo in round three and their form suggests they will extend their winning streak.

At Kumamoto city in the prefecture of the same name in Kyushu, winless Kyuden Voltex face the might of Suntory Sungoliath. After two seasons in the regional Kyushu league, Kyuden won their way back into Top League last season but after losing to NTT Docomo in the first round and then Kobe the next weekend they experienced their third loss in a row losing 17-6 to Toyota last round. It is going to be important for their season that the Voltex get their first win of the new season but they will have to pull out all stops if they are to achieve that against the reigning champions. After taking the Top League title the last two years in a row, Suntory are again shaping up as firm favourites to defend their title after an impressive win over NTT Comm. in the first round followed by an emphatic win over Toyota in round two. However, they underestimated NEC last game going down 34-33 but that should be the motivation for a big game against Kyuden.

At the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Saturday evening, NTT Communications Shining Arcs play Toyota Verblitz in the first game of a double header. NTT Comm. lost to Suntory in the opening round and then went down to NEC before bringing up their first win of the season with a 28-26 win over Toyota Industries in their last game and so their form suggests they will push Toyota all the way. The Verblitz have had an up and down start to the season with a win over Toyota Industries in their first game before being overwhelmed by Suntory in round two. They eked out a 17-6 victory over Kyuden in their most recent outing but they will have to be more convincing if they are to have back-to-back wins.

In the second game in Tokyo, NEC Green Rockets play NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes. NEC lost a tight one to Kobe in the opening round and then recoverd to beat NTT Comm. in round two before stepping up to beat the reigning champions Suntory 34-33 last round thanks to a dramatic late try from Nemani Nadolo. It is now going to be important that the Rockets do not get carried away and do the job against the Red Hurricanes. NTT Docomo were the surprise packet of the first two rounds beating Kyuden and then Toyota Industries to sit alongside Suntory on top of Pool A with a maximum ten points, but were given a reality check against Kobe last round losing 48-3. They will have to bounce back but it will not be easy going against NEC.

Pool B

In the first game of round four at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Friday evening, Ricoh Black Rams play Toshiba Brave Lupus. Ricoh played out a draw with Coca-Cola in the opening round and then suffered an agonising 31-30 loss to Yamaha the next week before bringing up their first win of the season with a 25-20 win over Canon in round three. However, the Black Rams will have fond memories of the corresponding encounter last season when they beat Toshiba for the first time in a Top League clash. Toshiba, on the other hand, have had scratchy wins over Canon, Coca-Cola and Kubota and although they have the runs on the board they are still playing below par on their standards.

In the first game of a double header in Yamaguchi city, Yamaguchi prefecture, Canon Eagles play Kintetsu Liners. Canon are only in their second season in Top League but this bright and enthusiastic team has nothing to lose week in week out and after losing 10-8 to Toshiba in their first game they took the challenge to the more fancied Panasonic in round two coming up with a memorable 23-18 victory. The Eagles then could not back that up against Ricoh in their last game losing 25-20 and so a big performance against Kintetsu is needed. The Liners lost heavily to Panasonic in the first round and although they were far more competitive against Kubota the following round they still went down 22-17. However, they turned their season around with a 34-14 win over Coca-Cola in round three and will be looking for another win to push them further up the table.

In the second game in Yamaguchi, newly promoted Coca-Cola West Red Sparks play Yamaha Jubilo. Coca-Cola had a reasonable start to the season with a draw against Ricoh in the first round but then lost heavily to Toshiba and also Kintetsu to be on the bottom of their pool after the opening three rounds. Yamaha have been one of the big improvers over the past number of years and they continue to impress this year with wins over Kubota in the opening round and then Ricoh in round two before holding Panasonic to a 13-all draw at home in Shizuoka last round.

In Ashikaga city in Tochigi prefecture in the only Sunday game of the round, Panasonic Wild Knights will be close enough to home to call this a home game when they host Kubota Spears. Panasonic have had a mixed start to the season with a big win over Kintetsu in the opening round followed by a surprise loss to Canon in round two only to experience a 13-all draw with Yamaha last round. The Knights cannot afford another loss this early in the season and so the Spears will want to be on their game for this match up. Kubota played well against Yamaha in their first game though ran out of steam in the second half allowing Jubilo to win while in round two they beat Kintetsu 22-17 in Tokyo. They were unlucky going down 22-20 to Toshiba last round but if they can take that form to Tochigi a win is on the cards.