Kolbe's try helps Sungoliath down Kwagga's Blue Revs
JAPAN LEAGUE ONE WRAP: Springboks and All Blacks featured heavily in Saturday’s action in Japan Rugby League One when Blue Revs faced Suntory Sungoliath in the day’s big fixture.
International loose forwards Sam Cane (New Zealand) and Kwagga Smith (South Africa) were both yellow carded in an exciting contest at Yamaha Stadium on Saturday as the yellow clad Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath came from 15-5 down at halftime, scoring four second-half tries to beat Blue Revs 29-25.
Cane, who had opened the scoring with his maiden try in Japan after five minutes, was despatched to the bin 32 minutes later for a dangerous breakdown cleanout after Smith had received his marching orders six minutes earlier for accidental head contact from a collision, while his side was leading 10-5.
Stretch it out 🙆♂️@CheslinKolbe #NTTLeagueOne | @sungoliath
pic.twitter.com/wRL0t7OYFC— JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE (@LeagueOne_EN) January 13, 2024
The teams traded tries in the second period, with the Blue Revs at one point leading 25-17, but they couldn’t hold on, with the quick feet of Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe scoring the penultimate try of the game as Sungoliath came back in the final 10 minutes to secure a valuable win.
Suntory remain five points behind the competition leading Wild Knights, who hammered Dynaboars 81-21, with Springbok second row Lood de Jager marking his first outing since July by scoring one of his side’s 12 tries.
Saitama’s try-scoring was so widely spread that de Jager’s second row partner, Liam Mitchell, was the only player to cross the goal line twice.
The home side was literally blown off the park in the first half as Saitama wreaked havoc in a near-flawless display on their way to a 48-0 halftime lead, with Sagamihara’s three tries in the second-period small consolation from a devastating defeat.
Saturday’s third match saw Eagles who, like Sungoliath and the Wild Knights will feature in next month’s Cross Border challenge series, produce a strong finish to beat Black Rams 24-8.
5️⃣0️⃣ CAPS! 🧢
Congratulations to Jesse Kriel on 50 appearances for his team Yokohama Canon Eagles 🎉👏@JesseKriel15 #NTTLeagueOne | @Canon_Eagles pic.twitter.com/Vvsret6BYe
— JAPAN RUGBY LEAGUE ONE (@LeagueOne_EN) January 7, 2024
Japan Rugby League One Round Five Results:
Division One
Saturday, January 13
Sagamihara Dynaboars 21-81 Wild Knights
Blue Revs 25-29 Tokyo Sungoliath
Eagles 24-8 Black Rams Tokyo
Sunday, January 14
Kobe Steelers 38-34 Kubota Spears
Kintetsu Liners 14-47 Verblitz
Brave Lupus Tokyo 40-12 Heat
Division Two
Saturday, January 13
Red Hurricanes Osaka 13-48 Green Rockets Tokatsu
Urayasu D-Rocks 10-7 Shuttles Aichi
Division Three
Saturday, January 13
Koto Blue Sharks 28-31 SkyActivs Hiroshima
Red Dolphins won by default Chugoku Red Regulions
*Picture credit: @Sungoliath
