Four-try Takayawa steers Yokohama past winless Liners

Fiji-born winger Viliame Takayawa starred for Yokohama Canon Eagles with four tries as the play-off contenders inflicted a 52-33 defeat on basement outfit Kintetsu Liners at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka on Friday.

The Liners led after just 78 seconds through veteran full-back Yoshizumi Takeda who was deputising for Japan international Semisi Masirewa. 

Takeda profited from Yokohama misjudging the bounce of Australian-born wing Joshua Nohra’s kick through which sat up for perfectly for the former Sunwolves player to cross for his first try of the season. 

Fly-half Daisuke Noguchi, who was filling in for Quade Cooper - with the Liners mindful of their upcoming relegation-promotion games - added the conversion from the left touchline. 

Yokohama finally turned their possession into points after 14 minutes when their backline neatly shuffled the ball from left to right and full-back Junpei Ogura put in Takayawa in the corner. 

Yu Tamura missed the conversion but didn’t have to wait long for another attempt. 

Ogura was the provider again as he produced a classy no-look offload to the rampant Takayawa (below) who, despite the attention of three Liners players, powered over the line to put his side ahead for the first time. 

South African centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg, who was recruited in February as a short-term replacement for his injured compatriot Jesse Kriel, extended his side's lead with his third try in only his seventh appearance for the club. 

Yokohama took a quick penalty in their own 22 and Tamura hoofed the ball upfield and Takayawa won the footrace against opposing wing Takahiro Hayashi and former Exeter Chiefs centre Tom Hendrickson to retrieve the ball. 

Takayawa found Kouki Arai who had van Rensburg up in support and the hulking former Sale Sharks man sidestepped Hendrickson as Yokohama looked set to run away with the game. 

Japan-qualified Takayawa completed a 20-minute hat-trick. 

A pinpoint kick-pass from Tamura found flanker Kobus van Dyk on the right flank and the South African offloaded to the onrushing Takayawa who raced over. Tamura slotted the conversion to put the visitors up 26-7 at half-time. 

Yokohama started the second half in the same vein they finished the first. 

Japan international Amanaki Mafi picked up the ball from the base of the scrum and illustrated his power as he beat four defenders to cross the line between the posts. 

The Liners, who had made three changes at half-time, saw one of their replacements stamp their name on the game as Australian lock Patrick Tafa produced a fine solo effort. 

Tafa, who replaced Sanaila Waqa, broke through the Yokohama line on the edge of their 22 and drove over for his second try in as many games. 

Yokohama’s sixth try saw scrum-half Arai finish a scintillating break which started deep in their own half. Van Rensburg, who has one cap for the Springboks – a 2016 loss to Wales – and Ogura combined and found livewire Takayawa who brushed off Takeda to burst through before being held up by Nora. 

Former judo prospect Takayawa kept the attack alive by finding Ogura who, after being stopped inches from the try line, popped the ball up to the advancing Arai. 

The Liners, whose fervent supporters deserve a mention for their unwavering support as they still seek their first victory in 2024, battled to stay in the game and cut the deficit to 21 points when flanker Taiki Miyashita crossed in the corner. 

The Osaka faithful’s faint hopes of a comeback were all but ended when hooker Shunta Nakamura ended a powerful Yokohama drive from a lineout maul with his third try in his last three games. 

Liners number eight Jose Seru, who represented Japan at the 2018 Sevens World Cup and Tokyo Olympics, showed that the hosts still had plenty of pride in their performance in front of their home fans. 

Fiji-born Seru, who only started playing rugby at the age of 17, recovered a loose ball five metres from the try line and bundled his way over for his fourth try of the season. 

Yokohama took advantage of a tired Liners defensive line after nine phases when the omnipresent Ogura – who was also a player of the match candidate – threw a dummy and sprinted into the hosts’ 22 before finding showstealer Takayawa who dabbed down for his fourth try. 

With the game beyond the hosts, they were eager to at least secure the final score in the game and replacement centre Haruki Kanazawa did just that with a walk-in consolation in injury-time. 

The winless Liners, who are waiting to find out who they'll play in the all-important relegation-promotion games, host fellow strugglers Black Rams Tokyo next Sunday. 

Yokohama, who are locked in a battle with Ardie Savea’s Kobe Steelers for the fourth and final play-off spot, entertain ninth-placed Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars next Saturday in Tokyo. 

Springboks stars Faf de Klerk and Jesse Kriel are both back in training after recovering from knee and hand injuries respectively and could be available next week. Yokohama may opt to leave out their key duo as they conclude their regular season with crucial games away at Toyota Verblitz and at home to leaders Saitama Wild Knights.  Pictures courtesy of Yokohama Canon Eagles