Kriel helps Eagles soar
ROUND 14 WRAP: The race to the semifinals in the second edition of Japan Rugby League One looks set to go down to the wire after the teams ranked one to five all won on Matchday 14.
Second-placed Spears confirmed their place after outclassing bottom-of-the-table Hanazono Liners, while third-placed Sungoliath require just two points from their final two matches to etch their name on a play-offs’ invitation.
The fourth spot remains up for grabs, even though Yokohama Eagles advanced their claim on Sunday, pulling five points clear of fifth-placed Brave Lupus Tokyo after a bonus-point win over the relegation-threatened Green Rockets.
The Eagles, who have become a semifinal contender this season after adding star Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk to their roster, face a potentially season-defining date with Suntory on matchday 15, needing to turn around an irritating loss on Matchday Three, where they were unable to take advantage of the sending off of All Black flyhalf Aaron Cruden after 18 minutes, being beaten 32-23 by Suntory’s 14-men.
De Klerk’s countryman and Springbok centre Jesse Kriel scored for the second consecutive week, taking his tally of tries for the season to six.
Todd Blackadder’s Brave Lupus remain in the semifinal fight, with the charges of the former Crusaders coach claiming their fifth-consecutive win at the Blue Revs’ expense.
Brave Lupus won six in a row to qualify last term, but will need seven this time, with the last obstacle a massive one in the form of the unbeaten Wild Knights, who are prepared by Blackadder’s former coach at the Crusaders, Robbie Deans.
The defending champions dented the Black Rams’ hopes of a sixth-place finish while winning their 14th game of the season on Saturday, with the defeat costing the Rams who were overtaken by a rampant Verblitz.
Verblitz added to relegation-threatened Sagmihara Dynaboars’ woes with a 48-point rout in Gifu.
Unbeaten D-Rocks continued their stroll through Division Two, outclassing the Shuttles.
Division One results:
Sungoliath 25-17 Kobe Steelers
Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay 55-17 Hanazono Liners
Verblitz 55-3 Sagamihara Dynaboars
Wild Knights 25-12 Black Rams Tokyo
Blue Revs 29-37 Brave Lupus Tokyo
Green Rockets 17-45 Yokohama Canon Eagles
