Kyodo
Kintetsu Liners missed out on a spot in the Top League rugby playoffs after losing 13-10 to NTT Communication Shining Arcs at Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground on Saturday.
Kintetsu, in seventh place and needing victory to stay in the hunt for a top-four finish, was down 6-3 at the break but overtook NTT 10-6 in the 62nd minute after Isamu Matsuoka crossed and Shotaro Onishi converted.
But six minutes later, NTT scrum-half Yoshio Kimishima scored a five-pointer and kicked the conversion himself to put the team in the lead for good. With the win, Shining Arcs assured themselves of at least 10th place and a berth in the wild card for the national championships.
NEC Green Rockets are also headed for the wild card after outclassing Canon Eagles 34-0 in the second game. Yu Tamura led the way with a try, a penalty and three conversions — all in the second half — and Hiroshi Yamashita also contributed with a pair of tries.
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