In the fifth round of Japan Rugby League One, the Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay defeated the Kobelco Kobe Steelers 38-34 thanks to a double from former All Blacks and Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles.
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In just the third minute, the 37-year-old rake began the scoring with a rolling maul, giving the Spears a 7-0 lead and extending his run of touchdowns.
Recently named World Player of the Year Ardie Savea answered for the Steelers, smashing over following a lineout play that saw the flanker round the corner and charge through the 10 channel, after a penalty had stretched the score to 10-0.
The Steelers swiftly responded as Bryn Gatland’s deflected cutout pass found winger Junta Hamano for a try in the corner, giving the Spears a 17–7 lead at the break.
Fullback Kanta Matsunaga’s spectacular counterattack run put the Steelers ahead. Three lead changes resulted from penalty goals on both sides until Coles’ second gave the Spears a comfortable 30–22 edge.
Coles scored from five meters out after bursting past foreign-born Kiwi No. 8 Tiennan Costley in a pick-and-roll.
Three minutes remained until South Africa center Rikus Pretorius scored the game-winning touchdown, giving the Steelers a 34-33 lead thanks to tries to Costley and Amanaki Saumaki, two barnstorming players.
Pretorius scored the game’s winning goal from 40 meters away after breaking through the Steelers defense in the middle of the field and using his speed to go past the fullback. L
In other JRL One action, Toyota Verblitz easily defeated Will Genia and Quade Cooper’s Hanazono Kintetsu Liners 47–14, despite Aaron Smith’s injury in the first quarter.
The Toshiba of Richie Mo’unga All Blacks Mo’unga and Seta Tamanivalu crossed for scores as Brave Lupus defeated the Mie Honda Heat 40–12.
