Tokyo Sungoliath’s Kotaro Matsushima, center, runs with the ball during a Japan Rugby League One match against the Yokohama Eagles at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on March 2, 2025. (Kyodo)
TOKYO (Kyodo) — South Africa international Jesse Kriel delivered a man-of-the-match performance Sunday as the Yokohama Eagles jump-started their pursuit of a Japan Rugby League One playoff berth with a 33-22 win against Tokyo Sungoliath.
Kriel scored one try and had a hand in another for the Eagles, who snapped a three-game losing streak with the come-from-behind victory at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.
With Yokohama winger Chihito Matsui sitting in the sin bin, Sungoliath drove their scrum to within inches of the line before prop Kenta Kobayashi dived over for the opening try in the 23rd minute.
After Yu Tamura’s penalty put the Eagles on the board, scrumhalf Faf de Klerk sparked a quick movement culminating in outside center Kriel storming across for a converted effort that gave the visitors their first lead.
Another penalty from former Japan No. 10 Tamura sent Yokohama into the break with a 13-7 advantage.
The two teams traded the lead in the second half before the Eagles put the game out of reach when Kriel delivered the ball for winger Kippei Ishida to dot down out wide in the 76th minute.
Elsewhere, the first-place Saitama Wild Knights erased a seven-point halftime deficit to stay unbeaten with a 46-32 win over the Kobe Steelers, while the Shizuoka BlueRevs remained fourth, one spot ahead of Yokohama, following a 44-14 defeat of Mie Heat.
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