19-cap All Black involved in Japan Rugby League One shocker

Mark Telea scored his fifth try of the season as Toyota Verblitz shocked Kubota Spears 24-7 yesterday to heat up the race for the playoffs in Japan Rugby League One.

Steve Hansen’s men led from the 12th minute after their All Black winger got on the end of a superb wide-ball from centre Siosaia Fifita, and remained in control for the rest of the wet afternoon in Gifu, stretching their advantage to 24 points shortly after halftime when ex-Hurricanes utility back Aidan Morgan was worked across for their fourth try.

Such was the home side’s dominance; it was only a try three minutes from time by prop Opeti Helu that spared the 2022-23 champions the indignity of being held scoreless for the first time in the league’s five-year history.

The win was Toyota’s fifth from their last six outings, made even more remarkable by the fact that 31 points had separated the sides on the championship table before kick-off, and they had lost 39-10 to Kubota in January.

Toyota’s best performance of the season pushed them above Mie Honda Heat on differentials in an open race, which saw the teams ranked between sixth and ninth each head into next weekend’s bye on the back of a win.

Heat made their play for the top six earlier on Saturday afternoon after upsetting fourth-placed Tokyo Sungoliath 24-17, spearheaded by two tries from their test hooker Tevita Ikanivere.

The Flying Fijian, who has now scored twice in three of his last four appearances, picked up a try from rolling mauls in each half as Honda capitalised on a strong start, with three tries in the opening 16 minutes.

The first was scored by Los Pumas backrower and man-of-the-match, Pablo Matera.

Two-try Kwagga Smith led a remarkable recovery by Shizuoka BlueRevs who kept their hopes of back-to-back playoffs appearances alive after a 45-41 win over Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars, having at one point trailed 31-12.

Sagamihara’s All Black scrumhalf Brad Weber was a try-scorer during a crazy start to the game when each side scored two tries in the opening 10 minutes.

Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo had dual international Seta Tamanivalu to thank as the defending champions ended their seven-game losing streak with a 40-24 win over Urayasu D-Rocks today.

The former All Black and Flying Fijians centre scored three tries.

Although Brodie Retallick went try-less for only the fourth time this season after starting from the bench, former test teammate Ardie Savea scored twice as Kobelco Kobe Steelers beat BlackRams Tokyo 40-19.

Dave Rennie’s men are second behind Saitama Wild Knights, who returned to the summit by disposing of Yokohama Canon Eagles for the 19th time in a row, with Marika Koroibete and Damian de Allende each try-scorers in the 42-15 win.