Suntory Sungoliath overturned a 12-point deficit at the break to beat Yokohama Canon Eagles 40-33 with an injury-time try to win the division one third-place play-off at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday.
The two beaten semi-finalists met on the eve of the final for the second year in a row as Suntory avenged last year’s loss with a determined second half display.
Yokohama’s right wing Chihito Matsui, who came in for Viliame Takayawa who picked up an injury from a try-saving ankle tap a week ago, scored after just three minutes after a sweeping attack.
The Tokyo 2020 sevens player crossed for only his second try of the season with his playing opportunities limited due to the presence of Masayoshi Takezawa, Takayawa and fellow Fiji-born wing Inoke Burua.
Suntory's potent full-back Kotaro Matsushima broke to the score his team’s first points and Japanese sensation Mikiya Takamoto tied up the score at 7-7.
Industrious hooker Kosuke Horikoshi (below), who has 13 tries this season, was left bloodied from an early collision but still drove his team on with a captain’s display.
Former Sunwolves lock Liaki Moli, who briefly represented Tonga u20’s and then New Zealand u20’s as a teenager, scored his first try of the season before teammate Matsui crossed again to put Yokohama in command after just 24 minutes.
High-quality full-back Jumpei Ogura jinked his way past a plodding Suntory defence as his rampant side scored their fourth try and Yu Tamura slotted the extras for a 26-7 lead after 30 minutes.
Suntory prop Shinnosuke Kakinaga dived over from close range to cut the gap to 12 points at the break.
Matsui sealed his hat-trick just two minutes into the second half before prop Kenta Kobayashi replied for Suntory.
Trailing 33-21, Suntory's replacement number eight Tamati Ioane powered over after 52 minutes and Takamoto was successful with his conversion to put Suntory to within a try of Yokohama.
Ioane popped up again and capped off a lengthy spell of possession with his second try after the Fuchu side had been camped out on Yokohama’s try line.
Takamoto missed the conversion to leave the scores tied at 33-33 with four minutes remaining.
Yokohama attacked through fly-half Tamura in the 80th minute but the overzealous veteran threw a no-look pass to nobody and replacement wing Shota Emi gratefully scooped up the ball and ran clear to dramatically win the game for Suntory.
Kolbe kicked the conversion as Suntory produced a stunning second-half comeback from being 12 points down at the interval to winning by seven points.
Sunday's final sees inaugural League One champions and last season's beaten finalists Saitama Wild Knights face Toshiba Brave Lupus at the National Stadium in Tokyo with over 50,000 tickets already snapped up. Stay tuned to RugbyJP for coverage from the final. Pictures courtesy of Suntory Sungoliath
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