Japan League One round-up
Wild Knights extended their perfect record to 13 wins with a 50-26 win away to the Tokyo Black Rams, with the leaders running in seven tries on their way to a third consecutive half century.
Marika Koroibete scored a second straight brace to add to tries from Atsushi Sakate, Esei Ha'angana, Tomoki Osada, and Itsuki Onishi's double while Rikiya Matsuda's 13 points put him in the top points scorers spot.
Shizuoka Blue Revs staged a stunning comeback to produce the season's first draw, at home to Spears Kubota. The visitors flew into a 26-0 lead through tries from Harumichi Tatekawa, Sione Teaupa, Bernard Foley, and Shinobu Fujiwara inside 25 minutes. ARevs try from Charles Piutau was subdued by a Yuhei Shimada score, giving Kubota a 31-7 half-time lead.
Revs scored four unanswered tries from Sione Vuna, Piutau, and Malo Tuitama before Vueti Tupou scored the equaliser in the 82nd minute, but Keegan Faria scuffed the conversion.
Suntory Sungoliath cored nine tries to thrash Honda Heat 60-10, while Canon Eagles maintained a comfortable playoff cushion with a 52-33 win away to the winless Kintetsu Liners – winger Viliame Takayawa scored four tries.
Toyota Verblitz saw off Mitsubishi Dynaboars 34-20. James Grayson's 10 points were not enough to cancel out 19 from Beauden Barrett, who picked up two tries.
On Monday, Toshiba Brave Lupus face a tough challenge to keep the Knights in sight, facing Kobe Steel with a bonus point win the minimum requirement.
