Foley's Spears launch comeback win in Japan
WEEKEND WRAP: Bernard Foley bagged 17 points, including his third try in four weeks, to spark a spectacular revival by Spears Funabashi as they beat Honda Heat 61-24 in Japan Rugby League One.
The outgoing champions trailed 0-17 after half an hour before a yellow card to Heat’s Springbok lock Franco Mostert transformed the game.
By the time the South African returned, the Spears had claimed three tries to creep ahead, before running amok during a second-half scoring spree in which they crossed seven times.
After a disappointing defence of their title, the Spears can finish fifth by beating third-placed Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath next week.
Sungoliath were beaten by Brave Lupus Tokyo 36-27 in the Fuchu derby.
While the round’s other results mean the west Tokyo rivals will meet again in the semi-finals, Brave Lupus will take confidence after completing a season double over Sungoliath for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign.
They did it without trump card, Richie Mo’unga. The All Black, who has been away on bereavement leave, watched from the stands at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium.
Eagles might have already qualified for the semifinals, but they were undone by All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett, whose visionary kick in behind produced the match-winning try for fullback Taichi Takahashi, following a 31-phase build-up that ran beyond the final hooter.
The try allowed Toyota Verblitz to win the game 35-31, keeping them in contention for fifth going into the final round.
That position is currently held by Dave Rennie’s Steelers, and the former Wallabies coach’s men appear in no mood to surrender it after outclassing Blue Revs 63-19 in Osaka.
Wallaby Quade Cooper missed Saturday’s action, but his Hanazono Kintetsu Liners teammates put up a good fight before going down 33-24 to Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights.
Rams Tokyo, coached by Australian Peter Hewat, will contest next month’s promotion/relegation series despite their 31-24 win over Dynaboars.
Japan Rugby League One Results – Round Fifteen
Division One
Saturday, April 27
Black Rams Tokyo 31, Dynaboars 24; at Sagamihara
Brave Lupus Tokyo 36, Suntory Sungoliath 27; at Tokyo
Division Two
Sunday, April 28
Kyushu Kyuden Voltex 42, Japan Seawaves 32; at Fukuoka
Shuttles Aichi 17, Green Rockets Tokatsu 14; at Kashiwa
Division Three
Saturday, April 27
Kurita Akishima 31, Chugoku Red Regulions 23; at Hiroshima
Sunday, April 28
Red Dolphins 38, SkyActivs Hiroshima 30; at Yamaguchi
