Spears turn up the heat on new boys Mie
TOKYO, JAPAN - MAY 14: Bernard Foley of Kubota Spears prepares for a conversion during the Rugby League One playoff semi final between Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay and Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath at Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground on May 14, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)
JAPAN RUGBY
Reigning champions Kubota Spears steamrolled past Division 1 newcomers Mie Heat 75-0 to secure their first win of the season in Japan Rugby League One.
Bernard Foley kicked 20 points and scored a try as the Spears outclassed the home team at Suzuka Sports Garden, bouncing back from their 52-26 defeat to Tokyo Sungoliath last weekend.
South African lock JD Schickering opened the scoring with a six-minute try before Pieter Labuschagne and Opeti Helu crossed by the half-hour mark.
Full-back Gerhard van den Heever skipped past several defenders to run in from halfway, while Foley showed good footwork for his try and Haruto Kida went over after the hooter for a 40-0 lead at the break.
The Heat, who lost 80-15 in their first game to Kobe Steelers, conceded five more tries in the second half to Shogo Nezuka, Faulua Makisi, Ryongji Kim, Schalk Erasmus and Ruan Botha.
Sagamihara Dynaboars are on top of the standings ahead of today's three games.
They beat Black Rams Tokyo 25-17 for their second straight win with tries from Kanzo Schinckel, former London Irish Wallaby flyer Curtis Rona and Honeti Taumohaapai, with 10 points coming from the boot of former Northampton flyhalf James Grayson.
Meanwhile, Yokohama Eagles held off Toyota Verblitz 24-22 for their first win of the season in front of 31,312 fans at Nissan Stadium.
Former Japan fly-half Yu Tamura contributed nine points for the Eagles with Takato Okabe, Sione Halasili and Brandon Inoke scoring tries, while former All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith touched down for the visitors as New Zealand star Beauden Barrett chipped in for a seven-point haul off the tee in defeat.
In today's games Hanazono Kintetsu Liners face Saitama Wild Knights, Shizuoka Blue Revs host Kobe Steelers and Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath play Brave Lupus Tokyo.
