Marx's heroics boost Spears into strong play-off position

ROUND 16 WRAP: Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx’s try and two assists helped the Spears head into a strong position ahead of the JRLO play-offs.

Spears Tokyo-Bay haven’t lost at Spears Edoriku field for 23 matches but at half-time on Saturday, 11th-placed Mie Heat were sniffing one of the upsets of the season, having absorbed all that the home side could throw at them and come out of it 13-10 ahead.

Enter Spears hooker Malcolm Marx.

Having helped set up the opening try of the game for Wallaby Bernard Foley, the Springbok hooker also had a hand in his side’s second, before adding his own name to the scoresheet twice in three minutes.

The 32-year-old’s first try came off a cute play at the front of a line-out, the second as the result of a forward rumble close to the goal line, a situation from which Marx is usually deadly.

By the time Marx had finished his handiwork, having taken his personal try tally for the season to nine, the Spears were 27-13 ahead, and the game was as good as done.

It was to Heat’s credit that they did not capitulate, conceding just two further tries while scoring one themselves, but the 39-20 defeat leaves Kieran Crowley’s men facing a sudden death contest against Verblitz on Sunday, with a loss ending their chances of avoiding having to defend Division One status in The Replacement Battle.

The bonus-point win allowed the Spears to retain their second-placed position on the standings, although they too face a sudden-death-like game on Saturday against the Wild Knights.

Should the Spears win, they would almost be guaranteed a top-two finish, and a bye in the first weekend of the play-offs.

Kobe Steelers have made the Japan Rugby League play-offs, qualifying for the end-of-season championship series for the first time since their 2018 title success after they put the Sagamihara Dynaboars to the sword during yesterday’s 59-33 win at Osaka.

The Dynaboars had upset Kobe 34-26 when the sides met in January, rocketing to a 27-point lead before the Steelers mounted a belated response, but the home side made sure there would be no repeat, scoring four first half tries to establish a 24-7 advantage.

The pressure continued in the second period, with Kobe adding three tries in the first 18 minutes after half-time, before the defensive intensity went out of the game as the sides shared five tries in the final quarter.

The last time Kobe made the semifinals, they were guided by current coach Dave Rennie’s former assistant at the Chiefs, Wayne Smith, who had All Blacks Dan Carter and Andy Ellis on the playing roster.

That trio would have admired the speed and accuracy the ‘class of 25’ displayed in the opening hour, with the quality of the play at times almost exceeding the gorgeous sunny conditions, as Kobe produced a level of speed and precision in their ball transfer that the Dynaboars simply couldn’t live with.

Brought in to move the club forward after the lean years since 2018, it’s taken just two seasons for the former Chiefs, Glasgow and Wallaby boss to steer Kobe into the elimination series where they will chase the club’s third Japanese title since they won the inaugural nationwide Top League in 2003.

Fifth plays fourth on the first weekend of the elimination series and Kobe’s likely opponent, BlueRevs, continues to shape ominously after rallying from 0-21 behind to down Yokohama Eagles 38-28 in an error-strewn but at times exhilarating exhibition on Sunday.

BlueRevs impatience allied to Yokohama’s speed on the ball and rush defence allowed the visitors to gain control in the opening half-an-hour, but a try by BlueRevs hooker Takeshi Hino saw the momentum decisively swing, as the home side scored 31 unanswered points.

This included another length-of-the-field try from first season winger Valynce Te Whare – his second in those circumstances for the campaign – with the ex-rugby league man’s pace and power has proved a handful for opposing defences since his arrival in Japan.

Trailing by three points but desperate for a win, the Eagles continued to press, turning down kickable penalty opportunities in their quest, but were ultimately foiled by another long-range try, with BlueRevs loose forward Shuntaro Kitamura running 95 metres to score from a ruck turnover during a frantic final Yokohama attack.

With the try denying Yokohama a bonus point, the seventh-placed Eagles are now six points behind Tokyo Sungoliath, with their chances of reaching a third consecutive play-off fading.

Sungoliath strengthened their hand after this Sunday’s priceless 45-28 win over Verblitz, being led by two tries from ex-All Black skipper Sam Cane.

Both came during a competitive first half before Sungoliath moved away after the break, bagging three tries in the opening 15 minutes of the second period to put a dagger through Verblitz’s hopes.

While Steve Hansen’s side rallied in the later stages, Sungoliath wouldn’t be denied, with their seven-try-to-three victory placing them in the box seat to round out the play-offs makeup.

The Wild Knights had to withstand some second half brilliance from TJ Perenara to maintain their lead on the standings, holding on to win 27-21 after the All Black scrumhalf scored two quickfire tries to liven up the contest.

Having lost just once at Kumagaya since League One began, the home side were cruising when backrower Hayata Taniyama scored his maiden try for the club shortly after half-time to extend their advantage to 17 points.

Perenara’s first strike in the 58th minute, when he exposed some lax Wild Knights goal line defence, completely changed the game’s momentum, with the pressure ratcheted up further when he scored again seven minutes later, to close the score to 21-24.

While the upset wasn’t to be, with the Wild Knights steadying to control most of the game’s final minutes – adding a Kyohei Yamasawa penalty after the final siren to complete the scoring – the late goal didn’t deny the Black Rams an all-important bonus point.

This keeps their play-off hopes alive heading into Saturday’s must-win game against Sungoliath.

An outcome that had long appeared certain was confirmed on Friday night after Brave Lupus Tokyo fully exploited some fragile defence to post nine tries – including five unanswered in 25 minutes after half-time – to swamp Urayasu D-Rocks 61-19, ticketing a place in the end-of-season Replacement Battle for Greig Laidlaw’s embattled side.

Not even a massive performance throughout the season from Wallaby midfielder Samu Kerevi – who scored the ninth try of his last eight appearances against Brave Lupus, while being denied another by the TMO – has been able to save Urayasu from the relegation series.

Last year’s Division Two champions will face off against one of Green Rockets or Kintetsu Liners, across two legs in The Replacement Battle to determine their status for next season.

It is not unfamiliar territory: D-Rocks beat Kintetsu to win promotion last term, having lost to the same side at the same stage a year before.

Assuming the goal-kicking duties in the absence of the league’s leading point scorer Takuro Matsunaga, Richie Mo’unga scored 21 points in his side’s 13th win of the season, as well as playing a lead role in several of the victor’s tries, one of which was his 10th try of the season.

Only seven players have crossed the goal-line on more occasions than the All Black flyhalf.