GEORGE Kruis' Panasonic Wild Knights brought down the Canon Eagles 32-17 in yesterday's quarter-final, extending their unbeaten run to 14 matches since losing to Suntory Sungoliath in the 2019 semis.
Hadleigh Parkes set up a second minute try for centre partner Dylan Riley with a chip over the top of the Canon defensive line.
A further try by veteran half-back Keisuke Uchida propelled Panasonic to a 20-3 half-time advantage, and while the visitors fired a few shots in the second period, their faint hopes were killed off by a brilliant 80 metre dash from Japanese World Cup star, winger Kenki Fukuoka.
Panasonic play Toyota Verblitz in Saturday's semi-final after they edged past Johan Ackerman's NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes 33-29. Hurricanes led 29-21 after 55 minutes before two tries from Japan's New Zealand-born Test winger Jamie Henry.
Even in defeat, the Hurricanes still had the two best players on the field with No.9 TJ Perenara heavily involved, while the class of former Gloucester full-back Tom Marshall shone through with one try and another assist.
The remaining quarter-final today sees the All Black-laden Kobelco Steelers tackle the Kubota Spears with the winner to face Suntory next weekend, after the competition favourites were given a bye into the semi-finals courtesy of a walkover against the Covid-hit Ricoh Black Rams.
