Springboks winger Cheslin Kolbe scored a crucial try in Suntory Sungoliath’s 22-17 victory over Kwagga Smith’s Blue Revs on Saturday.
It was a much-needed result for Suntory who had won just four of their opening 12 games of the season and were in danger of missing out on the play-offs for the first time since 2016.
In fact, since the inception of the Top League, now the Japan Rugby League One, Suntory have failed to make the knockouts on just three occasions.
Kolbe’s solo try
Following three straight defeats, Kolbe and co. needed a victory but faced the daunting task of facing the Blue Revs, who have enjoyed a fine run of form this season.
The Smith-led side have won three games more this season than they had all of last and despite this weekend’s defeat, they remain in the top four.
It looked as if Suntory would not end their run of defeats when the Blue Revs hit the lead through Justin Sangster in the 18th minute in a closely fought first half.
However, Springbok flyer Kolbe gave his team a boost before the half-time break as he picked off a loose pass by Blue Revs’ fly-half Shuntaro Kitamura inside his own half and sped away.
The double World Cup-winning Springbok had too much pace for the covering defence and dotted down under the sticks as Suntory led 10-7 at the break.
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Blue Revs hooker Takeshi Hino grabbed a five-pointer at the back of a maul to get the hosts back in front after half-time but a yellow card soon after gave Suntory a route back into the game.
Prop Kenta Kobayashi benefitted from the man advantage as the front-rower ran a scrum-half-esque cheat line to receive a pass from ex-Crusaders centre Isaiah Punivai to reclaim the lead.
Another try from Ruga Hashimoto gave Suntory a 22-14 advantage in the final quarter of the match before Sam Greene cut the lead to just five points in the 72nd minute.
The Blue Revs went in search of a match-winning try but were denied by a turnover in the 82nd minute.
The victory is a timely boost for Sungoliath as the race for the six play-off spots heats up with a home game against the lowly Honda Heat up next. Meanwhile, the Blue Revs will look to bounce back against the Dynaboars – who Springboks flyer Kurt-Lee Arendse represents – who fell to a 33-5 defeat to Malcolm Marx’s Kubota Spears.
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/cheslin-kolbe-scores-60-metre-solo-stunner-in-clutch-win-over-kwagga-smith
