This past weekend saw the second bye week of the Japan Rugby League One for all teams in Division One, but there was one fixture in Division Two and three matches in Division Three played on Saturday, January 31
This past weekend saw the second bye week of the Japan Rugby League One for all teams in Division One, but there was one fixture in Division Two and three matches in Division Three played on Saturday, January 31
Hino Red Dolphins 12-62 Toyota Industries Corporation Shuttles Aichi; at Tokyo (Kamiyugi Park)
The only match in the Division saw former Wallaby Noah Lolesio make his debut for Toyota Industries Corporation Shuttles Aichi, and he said after the win, “From neck surgery and thinking the worst, to 6 months later back playing the game I love. All thanks to the man above and my circle of support (you know who you are. Solid dub with the boys, look to build from here.”
Loleseio slotted six conversions from ten kicks in the win, which saw his side into third in the Division, albeit having played one more than those above them.
The visitors kicked on from a 28-10 halftime lead, which was started by another Wallaby, Josua Kerevi, scoring the first try and additional tries to Raia Takashima and Atsushi Yumoto, with Kerevi getting his second.
Raia Takashima got three more in the second half for a total haul of four tries. Kerevi completed his hat-trick before James Mollentze and Isileli Manu added two more for a glossy win.
Both Takashima and Kerevi are now joint second try scorers in Division 2 with 5 tries each.
Division 3
Yakult Levins Toda 25-20 Kurita Water Gush Akishima; at Tokyo (Komazawa Olympic Park)
The hosts held on for a home win at Komazawa Olympic Park General Sports Ground in Tokyo after holding a narrow halftime 13-10 lead.
8 points off the boot from Tsubasa Shinno and a single try for Masatoshi Doi (just his second of the season) gave them the edge over Kauri Tipene-Grace's try (first this campaign) and Hiroki Handa’s 5 kicked points.
Handa doubled his tally in the second half as Quinton Nicols dotted down, but Yakult Levins Toda’s two tries from Takumi Furukawa and Haruka Egihata in the 83rd minute snatched the win.
The victory sees Yakul Levons Toda move ahead of Kurita Water Gush Akishima on the table in what was only their second win in the five rounds thus far, and a good recovery after a 24-66 loss at the hands of SkyActivs Hiroshima the previous week.
Le RIRO Fukuoka 17-40 SkyActivs Hiroshima; at Kurume
The Division log-leaders and only undefeated side, SkyActivs Hiroshima, kept up their flawless season with a good away win and built on a solid 26-10 halftime advantage,
The four first half tries came from Taiyo Fukuyama, Shumpei Matsuzawa, Andrew Davidson, and Issen Kano. Davidosn and Shumpei Matsuzawa scored two more in the second half, with the loss seeing Le RIRO Fukuoka slipping to third.
Lock Andrew Davidson now leads the Division in tries scored with 5 - something about the JRLO and forwards leading the try stats this season. He is a former Scotland U20 and Gloucester, Glasgow Warriors, London Scottish, Newcastle Falcons and Edinburgh Rugby player.
Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions 0-40 SAYAMA SECOM RUGGUTS; at Hiroshima
Not only was it a comprehensive win for SAYAMA SECOM RUGGUTS, but they also kept the hosts scoreless, and the defeat sees Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions pinned to the foot of the table.
In the first half, former Taranaki Bulls New Zealander Daniel Waite slotted 8 points, with tries scored by Rikuya Takashima and Adrian Choat (former Bristol Bears and NZ Blues) for an 18-0 lead. Even a yellow card for former Western Force end Hurricanes Chase Tiatia late in the half allowed the hosts to score.
Second-half points came via tries for Naoto Shirakawa, Curtis Reid (x2) and Kento Mizutani.
