Tokyo Sungoliath and Kubota Spears Battle to a Draw in League One Clash
In a thrilling encounter at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo Sungoliath narrowly missed their first victory of the Japan Rugby League One season, finishing tied 26-26 against Kubota Spears on Sunday. The decisive moment came in the dying seconds when Mikiya Takamoto's conversion attempt hit the post, leaving both teams sharing the spoils.
Takamoto opened the scoring for Sungoliath with a try in the 15th minute, following a strong play by winger Seiya Ozaki, who was stopped just short of the line. Sungoliath quickly built a 14-0 lead with South African star Cheslin Kolbe adding another converted try in the 25th minute after capitalizing on a loose ball.
However, Kubota Spears responded with resilience. Winger Halatoa Vailea scored a try in the corner, taking advantage of a well-placed long pass from flyhalf Bernard Foley. As the first half progressed, the Spears managed to turn the game around with converted tries from Haruto Kida and David Van Zeeland, entering halftime with a 21-14 advantage.
Takamoto brought the teams level again with a conversion of Isaiah Punivai's try in the 54th minute. Yet, Kubota Spears regained the lead shortly after, with Foley showcasing his experience by slicing through the defense for another try, putting the score at 26-21.
The turning point of the match occurred in the 73rd minute when Kida was shown a yellow card, giving Sungoliath a one-man advantage. They capitalized on this opportunity by driving forward from a lineout, but Takamoto's conversion attempt from a challenging angle ultimately struck the upright, sealing a frustrating draw for the home side.
Takamoto expressed disappointment over the missed opportunity, citing a strong start from Sungoliath but lamenting the mistakes that led to the points given away. The team aimed to bounce back after starting the season with two defeats and a draw, hoping to mark Ryoto Nakamura's 100th appearance with a win.
In other League One matches on Sunday, Saitama Wild Knights maintained their perfect record with a comprehensive 48-24 victory over Mie Heat, while Sagamihara Dynaboars edged out Kobe Steelers with a 34-26 win.
