Daito Bunka University vs Hosei University
(Written by AZUL: December 7, 2024)
The Kanto University Rugby League Group has finally reached its 7th and final match. In the 6th round, the top four teams all lost their matches, which was a big upset, and the top positions changed drastically. As of the end of Section 6, the league group standings are as follows. The top five schools had a chance to win the championship.
| Kanto University Rugby League Group Order 2024 | |||||
| order | team | Win | Even | Lose | Winning Point |
| 1 | Ryutsu Keizai | 4 | 0 | 2 | 26 |
| 1 | Daito Bunka | 4 | 1 | 1 | 26 |
| 3 | Toyo | 4 | 0 | 2 | 24 |
| 3 | Tokai | 3 | 1 | 2 | 24 |
| 3 | Hosei | 4 | 0 | 2 | 24 |
| 6 | Nihon | 2 | 0 | 4 | 16 |
| 6 | Rissho | 2 | 0 | 4 | 16 |
| 8 | Kanto Gakuin | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
Daito Bunka University and Hosei University played each other on this day, and in the last four years, Hosei University has had the upper hand in the matchups, winning 3 and Daito Bunka University winning 1. Both schools were cheering enthusiastically for their team to win the league group championship and participate in the University Championships, which was at stake in this match. Hosei University’s cheering group was noticeable from the right end of the back stand where I was sitting.
Here are the two schools that will be playing against each other on this day.
First, an update on Hosei University, currently in third place.
Hosei University was in its final match, and KIM, the team’s captain and SO, who has been the team’s commanding force, was unable to play in this match due to injury. Therefore, sophomore SUZUKI was chosen as the substitute SO. Suzuki is a regular player who has been playing in official matches since he was a freshman, so he was expected to be able to play as a substitute. The rest of the team members were unchanged from the previous game. WTB KOBAYASHI will be the game captain for this match.
The starting lineup for this day’s match is as follows.
| Hosei University | |||||
| No. | Name | height | weight | age | |
| 1 | Fuminari MORIYASU | 172cm | 107kg | 19 | |
| 2 | Yuta HANAZAWA | 175cm | 108kg | 19 | |
| 3 | Meishi WATANABE | 171cm | 106kg | 22 | |
| 4 | Kota YAMAUCHI | 189cm | 100kg | 20 | |
| 5 | Kanta HOSOKAWA | 185cm | 103kg | 20 | |
| 6 | Kuu OSAWA | 172cm | 90kg | 19 | |
| 7 | Kanta MIURA | 184cm | 78kg | 20 | |
| 8 | Kohki MIYASHITA | 187cm | 110kg | 20 | U18,U20Japan |
| 9 | Yugo OYAMADA | 170cm | 70kg | 21 | U18 Japan |
| 10 | Sota SUZUKI | 173cm | 82kg | 20 | |
| 11 | Masaharu KOBAYASHI | 173cm | 81kg | 21 | |
| 12 | Taisei TANAKA | 176cm | 91kg | 21 | |
| 13 | Shun NAKAI | 172cm | 84kg | 22 | |
| 14 | Yuzuto SUMIKAMA | 174cm | 99kg | 19 | |
| 15 | Takuru KITAGAWA | 170cm | 78kg | 21 | |
** Player to watch **
Yugo OYAMADA. 170 cm, 70 kg, 21 years old. His father, Atushi OYAMADA, played for Toshiba Fuchu and played CTB for Japan. He is also an aggressive player who can find open space in the opposition’s ranks and use run play to try to break through. Will he be able to lead his alma mater to the university championship in the 100th anniversary year of the Hosei University Rugby Club?
Next up is the Daito Bunka University Rugby Club, which stands at the top of the Kanto University Rugby League group this season.
Daito Bunka University Rugby Club was founded in 1963. In the past, the team has won the Kanto University Rugby League group 9 times and the National University Rugby Championship 3 times. If they win the league championship this season, it will be their first in seven years, since 2017. The school’s rugby team has deep ties with the Kingdom of Tonga, and several international students have joined the rugby team every year. Many of these players have been selected for the Japanese national rugby team and are remembered by Japanese rugby fans.
This season’s team also has Tongan players playing an active role at the heart of the team. The international players have been playing the role of breaking through the opposing defensive network, and following them, they have been connecting and scoring points with both WTBs who are very decisive.
One of their weaknesses is that they concede a lot of points even in winning games, so they need to stabilize their set plays and reduce the number of penalties in order to win the University Championship in the future.
This day’s starting lineup was as follows.
| Daitou Bunka University | |||||
| No. | Name | height | weight | age | |
| 1 | Matsuri ODAGIRI | 174cm | 107kg | 20 | |
| 2 | Shura SAGA | 169cm | 97kg | 21 | |
| 3 | Lisala FINAU | 189cm | 120kg | 22 | |
| 4 | Genta ITABASHI | 178cm | 99kg | 22 | |
| 5 | Yuzuki SASAKI | 188cm | 105kg | 22 | Junior Japan,U20 Japan |
| 6 | Koji MINOHORA | 173cm | 90kg | 22 | |
| 7 | Kou NOBUHARA | 177cm | 94kg | 20 | |
| 8 | Yoshinobu OTAKE | 181m | 93kg | 20 | |
| 9 | Shoei ADACHI | 170m | 73kg | 21 | |
| 10 | Mahito FUKUI | 171cm | 82kg | 21 | |
| 11 | Iori OKATA | 166cm | 64kg | 19 | |
| 12 | Haniteli VAILEA | 180cm | 100kg | 22 | |
| 13 | Sota HASHIMOTO | 177cm | 90kg | 21 | |
| 14 | Towa KANDA | 170cm | 82kg | 22 | |
| 15 | Tavake OTO | 182cm | 97kg | 20 | |
** Player to watch **
Haniteli VAILEA. 180 cm, 100 kg, 22 years old. Born in the Kingdom of Tonga, graduated from Aomori Yamada High School. In this season’s team, he plays a breakthrough role in the BK and is also a placekicker. In games, he not only uses his strong physical ability to break through, but also shows his cleverness in knowing who to follow and being a good link between the players.
This season, Daito Bunka University has a back-3 of fast, decisive players, so VAILEA should be able to make the most of its strengths. I expect Daito Bunka University to make a great leap forward in the University Championship.
Let’s begin the first half.
10 minutes into the first half:
Daito Bunka University, with its FWs at the center, moves forward with power, while Hosei University, with its BKs at the center, runs and connects with its opponents. The two teams had completely different styles of play. After kicking each other, Hosei University tried to counter-attack with their BK, but Daito Bunka University’s defense held firm and they were unable to make much headway. Looking at Daito Bunka University’s previous games, it seemed that they had studied their defense quite a bit in preparation for this match, as they had lost a lot of points.
Daito Bunka University then chose to take a penalty kick after an infringement by their opponents, resulting in a own ball lineout in front of the enemy in-goal. Daito Bunka University secured the ball, and after a maul, they moved forward and scored a try in the middle left of the enemy’s in-goal.
The conversion goal after the try was also successful, and Daito Bunka University succeeded in scoring the first point, making the score 7-0.
15 minutes into the first half:
Hosei University chose to go for the PG when their opponents committed an infringement near the halfway line. The PG was a difficult one, as it was 50 meters long.
Hosei’s CTB TANAKA scored to make the score 7-3.
The Hosei University supporters cheered loudly for Hosei University’s score.
17 minutes into the first half:
Daito Bunka University secured the ball in their own lineout from their own line and expanded to the right. Daito Bunka University’s CTB VAILEA received the ball here, dodged the opposing day defense, and made a big advance deep into enemy territory. Here, VAILEA was caught by the opposing defense, but he connected with No. 8 OTAKE via an offload pass, and OTAKE scored a try to the left side of the goal post in the enemy’s in-goal.
The conversion goal after the try was also successful, and the score was 14-3.
20 minutes into the first half:
After the try, Hosei University took the restart kickoff, secured the ball in the enemy territory, and with the FW and BK working in unison, they attacked left and right and advanced to the enemy 22m line.
However, Daito Bunka University lost the ball in front of the enemy in-goal. Daito Bunka University counter-attacked from this position, and the FWs attacked deep into the enemy territory, and CTB BAILEA followed up on the pass and scored a try right under the enemy goal posts.
The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 21-3.
The photo above shows the screams of Daito Bunka University’s passionate supporters.
From the restart kickoff, Hosei University pushed forward to the enemy’s in-goal, but Daito Bunka University’s defense made them hesitate in their attack, and they missed the chance.
4 minutes into the first half:
Daito Bunka University’s WTB OKATA caught Hosei University’s SO SUZUKI’s kick from his own line at the 22m line, but his foot stepped on the line, resulting in a lineout for Hosei University.
From this position, Hosei University launched a series of attacks, but Daito Bunka University’s stout defense prevented them from advancing. However, Hosei University moved to the left, and with skillful passing, passed the ball to WTB KOBAYASHI, who was positioned on the outside, and KOBAYASHI scored a try in the left corner of the enemy in-goal. This was the first try of the match for Hosei University.
The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 21-10.
The first half ended with the score at 21-10.
In the first half, Daito Bunka University’s solid defense was outstanding as they almost completely stopped Hosei University’s counter attacks.
For Hosei University, the score was a direct result of repeated line breaks by Daito Bunka University’s leading scorer, CTB Vailea, which led to the score.
Can Hosei University overcome their first half mistakes and close the gap?
Let’s get the second half underway.
10 minutes into the second half:
Hosei University was unable to match Daito Bunka University’s strong in-goal defense in attack in the first half. However, Hosei University’s FWs made strong contact, connected the ball, kept moving forward, and found a rhythm of continuous attacks. Hosei University came close to the enemy’s in-goal several times and even created a try chance, but failed to score a try. However, Hosei University got a PG opportunity deep in enemy territory after a foul on their opponents, and CTB TANAKA converted it to make the score 21-13.
12 minutes into the second half:
Daito Bunka University caught the ball from a PG restart and launched an attack. Again, the ball was passed to CTB VAILEA, the key man in Daito Bunka University’s attack, who bounced off the opponent’s defense and quickly approached the enemy’s in-goal. Hosei University stopped VAILEA just before the in-goal, but VAILEA connected with No.8 OTAKE via an off-load pass, and OTAKE scored a try in the left center of the in-goal.
The conversion goal after the try was missed, but the score was 26-13.
As Daito Bunka University spent more time on the attack, they gradually added to their tally. First, in the 16 minutes into the second half, a driving maul in front of the in-goal resulted in a try. The scorer was hooker SAGA, and the conversion goal was successful. The score was 33-13.
21 minutes into the second half:
Hosei University was penalized for a dangerous tackle, and FB KITAGAWA was temporarily sent off for 10 minutes.
Daito Bunka University gained a numerical advantage and used a series of aggressive attacks to their advantage, and WTB OKATA scored a try in the right corner of the in-goal. The conversion goal after the try was missed, but the score was 38-13.
25 minutes into the second half:
From the kickoff after the try, Hosei University took possession of the ball in the enemy territory and launched a series of attacks, but the teams did not communicate well with each other, and there were two occasions when no one received a pass. Daito Bunka University’s WTB OKATA did not let this go. After a mistake by Hosei University, Daito Bunka University’s WTB OKATA picked up the ball that had rolled into their own territory and ran 80 meters to score a try in the left center of the enemy’s in-goal.
The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 45-13, Daito Bunka University’s 32-point lead, and considering the time remaining, Daito Bunka University’s victory was almost assured in this match.
Hosei University suffered a great deal of mental damage as they attacked right up to the enemy in-goal, where a mistake cost them a try.
29 minutes into the second half:
Hosei University started a counterattack from the restart kickoff with 11 minutes remaining. Hosei University attacked in good rhythm, with each player moving forward at key points to close in on the enemy in-goal, and finally WTB KOBAYASHI scored a try right in the middle of the in-goal.
The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 45-20.
36 minutes into the second half:
With only a few minutes remaining, Hosei University broke the line on a run play from their own line and moved deep into the enemy territory. With the enemy in-goal closing in, they went on a series of attacks, but were unable to break through Daito Bunka University’s defensive network because of their monotonous attacks. However, Hosei University continued to attack tenaciously, and Lock HOSOKAWA scored a try in the left center of the in-goal.
The score was 45-25, despite a failed conversion attempt.
38 minutes into the second half:
Hosei University, hoping to get as many points back as possible, kicked off from the restart after the try and tried to break through, even from deep in their own territory. Hosei’s attack was not interrupted, and the ball flowed smoothly, with Hosei’s FB KITAGAWA running along the left line deep in the enemy territory and kicking a grounder punt toward the in-goal. Hosei University’s WTB KOBAYASHI, with his quick feet, followed up and scored a try right under the goal post.
The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 45-32.
The time remaining was running out, but Hosei University’s explosive attack continued. On the return from the kickoff, the FW and BK worked in unison to push forward and close in on the enemy in-goal, creating a try opportunity right in front of the goal posts.
However, the final pass of the try chance was ruled as a throw forward, and the scoring opportunity was missed.
Hosei University tried to fight back, but time ran out, and Daito Bunka University won the Kanto University Rugby League group championship for the first time in seven seasons.
Many Daito Bunka University supporters could be seen in the stands cheering on their team.
Hosei University was also down by a large margin of points at one point, but they made a spectacular game by catching up at the end of the game.
The final score was 45-32. As a result of this match, Daito Bunka University won the Kanto University Rugby League group championship for the first time in seven seasons, and will participate in the National University Rugby Championship Tournament.
Hosei University, on the other hand, finished 5th in the league standings, cutting off their path to the University Championship.
Both schools gave their all in this match, and we commend Hosei University for their good effort and wish Daito Bunka University the best of luck in the University Championship Tournament.
＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
Stop the war.
Peace to Ukraine
＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊