Polynesian Warrior
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TOKYO - The NEC Green Rockets won the 42nd Japan Rugby Football Championships beating Toyota Verblitz 17-13 today at Chichibunomiya.
The victory, NECs second overall, was still in doubt right up to the final whistle as the Green Rockets had to defend against a ferocious assault on their line by the gallant Toyota team.
But with very few tackles being missed all day, NEC were eventually able to hand the perfect farewell to former New Zealand Maori George Konia, who leaves Japan after eight years ? four with Isetan and four with NEC.
The veteran centre was heavily involved in NECs first try, scored by Takeshi Ohigashi as NEC went into the break 7-6 up - Toyotas points coming through the boot of Keiji Hirose.
Keiichi Shirahama extended NECs lead two minutes after the break with a penalty, but it was short-lived.
Toyota captain Hiroshi Sugawara exploited the smallest gaps down the blindside to dive over for a try three minutes later, with Hirose adding the conversion from the right-hand touchline.
At 13-10, one had the feeling the next score would be decisive and so it proved to be.
Having defended heroically on their own line, NEC captain Takuro Miuchi managed to force a turnover, and three minutes later his backrow partner Glen Marsh had followed up a kick from Koichiro Kubota to touch down under the posts.
Suguwara added the conversion and despite Toyota laying siege to the NEC line for the final three minutes, the Green Rockets held on for the win.
Our defense at the end won us the game, said NECs Jaco van der Westhuyzen, who said later that he couldnt comment on reports that he was leaving the club after a year to return to the Leicester Tigers.
The victory, NECs second overall, was still in doubt right up to the final whistle as the Green Rockets had to defend against a ferocious assault on their line by the gallant Toyota team.
But with very few tackles being missed all day, NEC were eventually able to hand the perfect farewell to former New Zealand Maori George Konia, who leaves Japan after eight years ? four with Isetan and four with NEC.
The veteran centre was heavily involved in NECs first try, scored by Takeshi Ohigashi as NEC went into the break 7-6 up - Toyotas points coming through the boot of Keiji Hirose.
Keiichi Shirahama extended NECs lead two minutes after the break with a penalty, but it was short-lived.
Toyota captain Hiroshi Sugawara exploited the smallest gaps down the blindside to dive over for a try three minutes later, with Hirose adding the conversion from the right-hand touchline.
At 13-10, one had the feeling the next score would be decisive and so it proved to be.
Having defended heroically on their own line, NEC captain Takuro Miuchi managed to force a turnover, and three minutes later his backrow partner Glen Marsh had followed up a kick from Koichiro Kubota to touch down under the posts.
Suguwara added the conversion and despite Toyota laying siege to the NEC line for the final three minutes, the Green Rockets held on for the win.
Our defense at the end won us the game, said NECs Jaco van der Westhuyzen, who said later that he couldnt comment on reports that he was leaving the club after a year to return to the Leicester Tigers.
