Japan Rugby League One: Kieran Crowley's Honda Heat stun champions Brave Lupus

Le RIRO Fukuoka v Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions – postponed (Fukuoka)

Crowley, who enjoyed notable success on the international stage with Italy – including a historic first win over Australia and a famous victory against Wales in Cardiff – may well regard this result as one of his most impressive achievements at club level. Honda tore into Brave Lupus from the outset, setting the tone with a fifth-minute try from Los Pumas centurion Pablo Matera.

That score sparked a devastating first-half blitz as Honda ran in five tries to take a commanding 34–21 lead into the break. New Zealand-educated winger Ben Paltridge crossed twice as the Heat exposed rare defensive lapses from the reigning champions.

Toshiba mounted a late rally, scoring three tries in the final six minutes – two from utility back Michael Collins – to salvage a losing bonus point, but the damage had long been done. Richie Mo’unga and Michael Leitch both crossed in the first half, though Brave Lupus were left to rue a second defeat of the campaign.

The upset opened the door for Kobelco Kobe Steelers to strengthen their grip near the top of the table, extending their advantage over fourth-placed Toshiba to five points following a remarkable 60–45 shootout win over Shizuoka BlueRevs. Defence was optional at times in Hyogo, but Kobe were relentless.

Winger Shunsuke Uenobo led the charge with a first-half hat-trick as Kobe surged to a 38–21 halftime lead. Captain Brodie Retallick also added to his impressive try tally, scoring for the ninth time this season to remain the competition’s leading try-scorer, one ahead of Saitama Wild Knights hooker Atsushi Sakate.

Despite a late flurry from the BlueRevs, including three of the final four tries, Kobe’s dominance after the break ensured a comprehensive victory in a match that epitomised the attacking nature of League One.

Elsewhere, BlackRams Tokyo produced another gritty defensive display to edge competition leaders Saitama Wild Knights 13–6 in rain-soaked conditions in Tokyo. Despite conceding an early try, the BlackRams held firm against a side that had scored 31 tries in their previous six matches, grinding out a deserved bonus-point win that lifted them above Urayasu D-Rocks on the ladder.

Kubota Spears kept pace at the top with a thumping 48–14 victory over D-Rocks, closing the gap on the Wild Knights to just two points. Skipper Faulua Makisi was outstanding, bagging a second-half hat-trick, while Springbok Jasper Wiese scored twice in defeat.

At the other end of the table, Leon MacDonald claimed his first win as Yokohama Canon Eagles head coach as his side edged Toyota Verblitz 20–14. The result ended a run of 10 straight defeats for the Eagles and lifted them off the foot of the table, condemning Steve Hansen’s Verblitz to last place after a sixth consecutive loss.

Division Two also delivered late drama, with Hanazono Kintetsu Liners preserving their unbeaten record thanks to an 80th-minute try from scrum-half Kensho Kawamura to snatch a 16–14 win over Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks. In Division Three, SkyActivs Hiroshima remained on track for an unbeaten season with a comfortable win, while several fixtures across the leagues were postponed due to snow.

Division One
Saturday, February 7
Kobelco Kobe Steelers 60, Shizuoka BlueRevs 45 (Hyogo)
Saitama Wild Knights 13, BlackRams Tokyo 6 (Tokyo – Komazawa)
Mie Honda Heat 44, Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo 38 (Tochigi)
Yokohama Canon Eagles 20, Toyota Verblitz 14 (Aichi)
Kubota Spears 48, Urayasu D-Rocks 14 (Tokyo – Spears Edoriku Field)

Sunday, February 8
Tokyo Sungoliath v Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars – postponed (Tokyo – Chichibu)

Division Two
Saturday, February 7
Hanazono Kintetsu Liners 16, Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks 14 (Tokyo – Yumenoshima)

Sunday, February 8
RedHurricanes Osaka 7, Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex 3 (Fukuoka)
Green Rockets Tokatsu v Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves – postponed (Chiba)

Division Three
Saturday, February 7
SkyActivs Hiroshima 40, Yakult Levins Toda 14 (Hiroshima)

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