Semi Radradra and his Shizuoka BlueRevs teammates have revived their hopes of featuring in the Japan Rugby League One playoffs with a 34-24 win over Verblitz.
Coming into Sunday's match after five consecutive defeats, BlueRevs jumped to a 19-7 halftime advantage and held off Verblitz in the second half, sealing the win when former Wellington Hurricanes second-rower Justin Sangster scored with seven minutes remaining.
The BlueRevs are seventh, one spot below Brave Lupus Tokyo after the defending champions slumped to a sixth straight loss when South African Dawid Kellerman landed an injury-time penalty goal to secure Mie Heat a 24-22 win.
The weekend ended with Saitama Wild Knights top of the table after Aussie-born Brave Blossoms back-rower Jack Cornelsen scored his fourth try of the season to help his side overpower BlackRams Tokyo 31-7.
Each of the Wild Knights (twice), Kobe Steelers and Spears Funabashi Bay have now spent time at the head of the standings over the first 12 rounds.
Former Wallaby Bernard Foley and World Player of the Year Malcolm Marx were only required off the bench as the Spears rebounded from last week’s dramatic loss to the Wild Knights, disposing of Urayasu D-Rocks 59-35.
Aussie Sean McMahon’s second-half try was in vain as Sagamihara Dynaboars beat the Wallaby back-rower’s Tokyo Sungoliath for the second time in three weeks, prevailing 35-32 in a thrilling contest where the lead change hands five times.
New All Black boss Dave Rennie’s Kobe surrendered top spot on the standings after a shock 38-29 loss to bottom-placed Yokohama Eagles.
Springbok and Yokohama scrumhalf Faf de Klerk starred with a first-half hat-trick.
