Kubota Spears

29 - 29

Full Time

Saitama Wild Knights

Kubota Spears vs Saitama Wild Knights

Events

Commentary

Live Updates

The 80 minutes is up! The referee has blown their whistle to end the second half.

81'

The ball swings towards the posts but floats to the right, Bernard Foley will have to re-adjust the radar.

81'

Try

Hibiki Yamada goes on their own for a try.

80'

Spellbinding play by Rikus Pretorius is finished off with a try.

79'

This is dangerous for the defence as Rikus Pretorius bursts through to advance the Kubota Spears attack.

79'

Saitama Wild Knights decided to go for goal with Kyohei Yamasawa taking the drop goal but their aim is not up to scratch as the ball slides to the left of the post.

78'

This is dangerous for the defence as Jack Cornelsen bursts through to advance the Saitama Wild Knights attack.

76'

Conversion

Kyohei Yamasawa has kicked a conversion.

75'

Try

Ockie Barnard scores the try from close range.

74'

Taiki Koyama played a key part in that try.

74'

Kubota Spears decide to make a substitution, with Bryn Hall getting some game time.

71'

Kubota Spears decide to make a substitution, with Shinobu Fujiwara being replaced.

71'

Saitama Wild Knights make a substitution with Shota Fukui coming on.

68'

Saitama Wild Knights make a substitution with Itsuki Onishi coming off.

68'

Saitama Wild Knights make a substitution with Vince Aso coming on.

68'

Saitama Wild Knights make a substitution with Ryuji Noguchi coming off.

68'

Saitama Wild Knights make a substitution with Kenji Sato coming on.

68'

Saitama Wild Knights make a substitution with Atsushi Sakate coming off.

68'

Conversion

The Kubota Spears supporters go wild as Bernard Foley successfully kicks the conversion.

67'

Try

Hayate Era scores the try from close range.

66'

Saitama Wild Knights sub Esei Haangana comes onto the field.

64'

Lood de Jager departs for Saitama Wild Knights.

64'

Saitama Wild Knights sub Ockie Barnard comes onto the field.

64'

Liam Mitchell departs for Saitama Wild Knights.

64'

Kubota Spears sub Merwe Olivier comes onto the field.

62'

Tyler Paul departs for Kubota Spears.

62'

Kubota Spears sub Pieter Labuschagne comes onto the field.

61'

Takeo Suenaga departs for Kubota Spears.

61'

Kubota Spears sub Hayate Era comes onto the field.

61'

Malcolm Marx departs for Kubota Spears.

61'

Kubota Spears sub Keijiro Tamefusa comes onto the field.

61'

Opeti Helu departs for Kubota Spears.

61'

Kubota Spears sub Kota Kaishi comes onto the field.

61'

Yota Kamimori departs for Kubota Spears.

61'

The defensive line has been broken as Rikus Pretorius goes through the gap.

60'

What a run here by Rikus Pretorius as they get over the gainline!

55'

Penalty Goal

Bernard Foley does the business as their penalty goal attempt goes over.

54'

Hibiki Yamada comes on.

52'

Halatoa Vailea comes off.

52'

Penalty Goal

Kyohei Yamasawa does the business as their penalty goal attempt goes over.

51'

Asaeli Ai Valu makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

49'

Saitama Wild Knights decide to make a substitution, with Asaeli Ai Valu getting some game time.

46'

Saitama Wild Knights decide to make a substitution, with Lisala Kisina Finau being replaced.

46'

Saitama Wild Knights decide to make a substitution, with Craig Millar getting some game time.

46'

Saitama Wild Knights decide to make a substitution, with Keita Inagaki being replaced.

46'

Kubota Spears decide to make a substitution, with Ruan Botha getting some game time.

46'

Kubota Spears decide to make a substitution, with David Van Zeeland being replaced.

46'

The second half kicks off.

40'

The half-time whistle blows and both teams head for the dressing rooms.

40'

Fabulous play by Kubota Spears has led to Halatoa Vailea being able to wriggle through a gap.

40'

Saitama Wild Knights go for goal with Kyohei Yamasawa taking the conversion but their aim is not up to scratch as the ball slides to the left of the post.

39'

Try

Incisive passing by Saitama Wild Knights is finished off by Tomoki Osada, as they goes over for the try.

38'

Fabulous play by Saitama Wild Knights has led to Tomoki Osada being able to wriggle through a gap.

38'

That's a great try assist by Liam Mitchell.

38'

Conversion

Bernard Foley does the business as their conversion attempt goes over.

32'

Try

Silky skills by Kubota Spears ends with a try for Koga Nezuka.

31'

Spellbinding play by Atsushi Oshikawa is finished off with a try.

31'

Trouble here as Atsushi Oshikawa breaches the defence.

31'

This is dangerous for the defence as Atsushi Oshikawa bursts through to advance the Kubota Spears attack.

24'

Conversion

Kyohei Yamasawa makes no mistake with that conversion attempt.

21'

Try

A wonderful passing move by Saitama Wild Knights is finished off by Takuya Yamasawa

20'

This is dangerous for the defence as Takuya Yamasawa bursts through to advance the Saitama Wild Knights attack.

20'

That's a great try assist by Damian de Allende.

20'

Conversion

Bernard Foley converts the try.

16'

Try

A bit of individual brilliance by Tyler Paul leads to a try for Kubota Spears

15'

A gap opened in the defence and Tyler Paul took full advantage.

14'

Spellbinding play by Shinobu Fujiwara is finished off with a try.

14'

Conversion

Kyohei Yamasawa has kicked a conversion.

Try

Great hands by Saitama Wild Knights leads to a try for Liam Mitchell

That's a great try assist by Taiki Koyama.

The defensive line has been broken as Liam Mitchell goes through the gap.

We are underway as the referee blows their whistle.

Match Details

  
 Kubota Spears v Saitama Wild Knights 
  
 Round 17 
  
 Fri 2nd May 2025, 10:30pm PDT 
  
 Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium 
  
 RugbyPass TV 
  
 Katsuki Furuse

Points Flow Chart

Game ends in a Draw

Time in lead

Mins in lead

% Of Game In Lead

69%

20%

Possession Last 10 min

80%

Points Last 10 min

Key Events

Full Time

Yamada

29 - 29

80'

Yamasawa

75'

24 - 29

Barnard

74'

24 - 27

Foley

24 - 22

67'

Era

22 - 22

66'

Foley

17 - 22

54'

Yamasawa

51'

14 - 22

Half Time

Osada

38'

14 - 19

Foley

14 - 14

32'

Nezuka

12 - 14

31'

Yamasawa

21'

7 - 14

Yamasawa

20'

7 - 12

Foley

7 - 7

16'

Paul

5 - 7

15'

Yamasawa

0 - 7

Mitchell

0 - 5

Start

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.6

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

3.7

Entries

Attack Profile

Kubota Spears

Saitama Wild Knights

More Less

Defence Profile

Kubota Spears

Saitama Wild Knights

More Less

Ruck Speed

0-3 secs

51%

3-6 secs

30%

36%

6+ secs

19%

13%

Rucks Won

102

Last 5 Penalties

48'

49'

53'

64'

69'

Kubota Spears

Saitama Wild Knights

Kubota Spears vs Saitama Wild Knights Kick Off Times & TV Channel

Kubota Spears face off against Saitama Wild Knights in Japan Rugby League One Round 17 on Fri 2nd May 2025 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium. Kick-off in the UK is scheduled for 06:30 and is broadcast on Premier Sports. In South Africa it’s at 07:30 SAST, 17:30 NZST on RugbyPass TV in New Zealand, 15:30 AEST in Australia and 22:30 EST on RugbyPass TV in the US.

Kubota Spears won the last encounter but Kubota Spears are in the best form of their last 5 games.

Table Standings

Heading into the fixture the two sides are separated by just 1 place in the league table with Saitama Wild Knights in 1st and Kubota Spears in 2nd underlining just how tight this match could be.

Kubota Spears vs Saitama Wild Knights Squads

The official squads for Kubota Spears vs Saitama Wild Knights will become available around 24- 48 hours before kick-off. Teams can still make changes up to an hour before the match however.