Japanese corporate rugby heavyweights Toshiba Fuchu and NEC shared the national championship title after playing out a 6-6 draw in the final on Sunday.
NEC's Daisuke Hihara (center) is tackled by Kouzo Higashi of Toshiba Fuchu
during the national rugby championship final at Prince Chichibu Memorial
Ground in Tokyo.
Flyhalfs Daisuke Hihara and Eiji Ando each kicked two penalty goals and both sides' defenses held out in steady rain as Toshiba Fuchu completed a treble of major domestic titles while NEC won back-to-back national crowns.
Penalty goals by Ando gave NEC a 6-0 lead by the half-hour mark before Hihara pulled one back for Toshiba Fuchu to make it 6-3 at halftime at Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground in Tokyo.
Hihara landed his second penalty midway through the second half as Toshiba Fuchu enjoyed the bulk of possession. But the NEC defense maintained cohesion, thwarting the Toshiba Fuchu attacks highlighted by a series of driving mauls in stoppage time.
The result made Toshiba Fuchu the first team to win the Top League, Microsoft Cup and national championship in the same season since the Top League was inaugurated two seasons ago as Japan's top-tier rugby league.
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