Early, late spurts power Toshiba to rout of IBM
Written by Writer on Sunday, October 26th, 2008
Early, late spurts power Toshiba to rout of IBM
Rich Freeman / Daily Yomiuri Sportswriter
Rugby is, according to the proverbial saying, a game of two halves.
Saturday’s Top League encounter between Toshiba Brave Lupus and IBM Big Blue–won 68-19 by the Brave Lupus–disproved that, to a certain extent, with four distinct periods to the game.
Toshiba came out of the blocks firing and dominated the first quarter to go 21-0 up after 19 minutes. IBM then controlled proceedings and fought back with two tries of its own to make it 21-12 at the break.
The start of the second half saw both sides create chances but fail to make the final pass count, before Toshiba ran away with the game in the final 20 minutes to remain a point above Sanyo Wild Knights at the top of the standings.
“The first half was a very physical affair,” IBM head coach Hiroki Ando said of the opening 40 minutes at Tokyo’s Chichibunomiya Stadium. “But in the end we were well and truly beaten.”
David Hill led the way for Toshiba scoring a hat trick of tries and landing nine conversions, yet amazingly was overlooked for the man-of-the-match award–hooker Hiroki Yuhara winning it instead.
“I don’t know if it is some anti-foreigner thing,” said Toshiba captain Toshiaki Hirose. “If it is, it’s stupid. But at least Yuhara is happy.”
Yuhara’s try in the 56th minute broke the second-half stalemate and opened the floodgates as Toshiba ran in six more five-pointers.
“Our support play and continuity were the reasons for the big score,” said Toshiba coach Tomohiro Segawa. “I was really happy with our game control and the way we upped the tempo.”
IBM set the tone for the opening quarter by conceding three penalties within the first 90 seconds.
But the Brave Lupus were hell-bent on racking up the points and kicked for position rather than goal, and it paid off with Hill crossing in the fourth minute following a line-out five meters out.
The New Zealander added the extras and then was on target three minutes later when he scored an almost identical try, taking the ball from a line-out, dummying the defense and then sprinting over.
It looked like we were in for a cricket score but the IBM pack obviously thought otherwise.
Tries by Yasuo Suda and Keita Katsumata saw IBM close the gap and the Brave Lupus were suddenly forced to dig deep to prevent any further scores.
But weather the storm they did and Yuhara’s try–hanging out on the wing before scampering over a la Sean Fitzpatrick –kick-started Toshiba.
Japan wing Christian Loamanu showed he has fully recovered from injury by bagging a brace, and in the process gave IBM flyhalf Mike Hercus plenty to think about.
The next time the two line up opposite one another will be on Nov. 16 when the Brave Blossoms take on the U.S. Eagles.
In other games, Tony Brown had another perfect day with the boot landing five conversions and two penalties as the Wild Knights beat Kintetsu Liners 44-8 in Ota to keep the pressure on the Brave Lupus.
In Osaka, Kobe Kobelco Steelers downed Kubota Spears 27-17 to cement their third-place position.
(Oct. 26, 2008)
