Suntory Sungoliath tightened their grip on a play-off place with a dogged display against a spirited Kintetsu Liners team as the hosts ran out 34-14 winners at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium on Saturday.
The build-up to the game for the hosts had been dominated by talk of injuries to star duo Cheslin Kolbe and Sam Cane who also missed their 62-0 drubbing of the Black Rams last weekend.
Kolbe, who took part in a meet and greet pre-match and was no longer wearing his hand cast, could be ruled out for 4-6 weeks while Cane has a back injury and could miss the remainder of the season according to reports.
Suntory, who didn’t respond to RugbyJP.com’s request for information on the status of both players, still boasted a wealth of talent in their line-up including a powerful back three comprising of Japanese utility back Kotaro Matsushima and the lively Ozaki brothers (Taiga and Seiya) on either flank.
Winless Liners arrived in Tokyo after a much-improved display against Toshiba Brave Lupus which also marked the return of the dynamic former Sunwolves man Semisi Masirewa.
Suntory centre Isaiah Punivai gave his side the perfect start with his first League One try inside five minutes.
The New Zealander’s effort was followed by a fine solo try from Matsushima as the hosts threatened to run away with the game in front of a sparse crowd of 8,098 fans.
There’s been games this campaign where the Liners have capitulated but - boosted by their stellar display last time out - Masirewa, who has a habit of popping up in the right place at the right time, crossed for the Liners.
Sporting a scrum cap and pink boots, the Fiji-born full-back had a try ruled moments earlier after being offside from Quade Cooper’s kick through but wasn’t going to be denied this time.
Punivai, who produced an inspired performance, grabbed his second try after 21 minutes before Brave Blossoms legend Hendrik Tui powered over from close range as the Fuchu-based outfit led 22-7 at the break.
Both sides made changes as former Wallaby Will Genia replaced Tomoya Nakamura to reprise his famed half-back partnership with countryman Cooper.
Argentina stalwart Nicolas Sanchez, who was drafted in as a replacement for injured Welshman Gareth Anscombe, took over fly-half duties for Suntory from Japanese youngster Mikiya Takamoto.
Genia made an instant impact as he reacted first and outmanoeuvred the Suntory defence to dive on a grubber kick and score the first try of the second stanza.
Every time the Liners looked to have found a way back into the game, the home side burst back into life and threatened the scoreboard.
Left wing Taiga Ozaki went over for his fifth try of the season as Sanchez converted to take a commanding 29-14 lead.
Former Toyota Shuttles centre Joe Kamana, who has plied his trade in Japan since 2015 and represented his adopted homeland at the Sevens World Cup in 2018, completed the scoring with a well-taken try on his Suntory debut.
Post-match Masirewa told RugbyJP.com: “I played 60 minutes last week, I’ve got through 80 today and the body feels good.”
Suntory travel to Aichi to play Toyota Verblitz next Saturday as fit-again Beauden Barrett is set to face his old club.
The Liners host basement outfit Mie Honda Heat in a crucial match with both teams desperate to record their first win of the season in round 10.
Line-ups:
Suntory Sungoliath: Matsushima, S. Ozaki, Punivai, Nakamura, T. Ozaki, Takamoto, Saito, Tui, Hashimoto, Shimakawa, Hockings, Hosea, Nakano, Horikoshi, Morikawa
Replacements: Kamana, Sanchez, Nagare, Lavemai, Jeffries, Hosoki, Hay, Go
Kintetsu Liners: Masirewa, Kimura, Hendrickson, Kanazawa, Kataoka, Cooper, Nakamura, Seru, Nonaka, Sugawara, Blackwell, Tafa, Mitake, Kaneko, Tanaka
Replacements: Takeda, Sefo, Genia, Brown, Matsuoka, Tangimana, Sasaki, Matsuda
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