Shuto 10’s – Gaijin Northern Hemisphere make Final

Dateline: 5th July, 2015

The Tokyo Gaijin RFC Northern Hemisphere side has upstaged their Southern Hemisphere counterparts by making it to the final of the Shuto League 10's, however, despite a brave performance they went down in the final to Komaba Watermelonmen by 10 v 12.

The Shuto 10's is played every year in the first week of July and is contested by all the teams of the Shuto League and some invitational teams. This year there were 26 teams.

The Gaijin have done quite well in the event with three wins – one as a whole team, and two by the Southern Hemisphere team when we were asked to put two teams into the event. Those two wins came in 2010 and 2013. Last year (2014) the Southern Hemisphere team were narrowly beaten in the finals 5 v 0 (1 try to nil) and in their 2013 victory they played against the Northern Hemisphere team mates in the final and won 2 tries to one.

It is a very popular event on the Tokyo Gaijin RFC calendar due to the success, and sparks a heated rivalry within the team between the two hemispheres. The team has far more Northerners, being based in Japan, and the Northern players often complain if the Southerners have to borrow Japanese players due to lack of numbers. The South's success and alck of success by the North may also have something to do with it.

This year however the Northern team went one step further.  With the Southern team getting knocked out in the semi-final by Komaba WMM (Water Melon Men) the Northern team met them in the final and went 'oh so close' to taking it out. Unfortunately, conversions were allowed in the final, despite not being counted all day (due to one of the fields not having goal posts) and Komaba WMM had a good kicker and the Gaijin did not. Both teams scored two tries apiece with kicking being the only difference.

The Northern team had gone through all previous games undefetaed whereas the Southern team had lost one of the pool games to Acorn 10 v 0 on their way to the knockout rounds.

The Northern team played well as a team while the Southern team played more like 10 individuals and were guilty of 'hogging' the ball when passing to a  team mate may have been a better option.

Well done to the Northern team ……BUT you still have never won the Shuto League 10's…..and the South has won twice!!!!

RESULTS :

Northern Hemisphere Team:

v  No-Side Club 2 v 0 (Tomo, Jaimeson)

v  Shinjuku Jacks 2 v 0 (Eamonn, John)

v  Yellow Backs 1 v 0 (Gorka)

v  All France 3 v 0 (Takuya, Taka, Alex)

v  Zenkai Beers 1 v 0 (Eamonn)

v  Olivers 1 v 0 (Takuya)

Knockout stage

v  All JIn Jan 1 v 0 (Takuya)

v  Otowa 1 v 0 (Taka)

v  Tento Mushi 1 v 0 (Eamonn)

Final

v  Komaba WMM 2 v 2 Final result 10 v 12 Loss. (Alex 2)

Northern Side :

1. Eamonn Murphy (c) (Ireland)

2. John Simpson (USA)

3. Jeremy Burns (USA)

4. Jaimeson Musich (USA)

5. Dan Benson (USA)

6. Daniel Barnett (England)

7. Alex Moule (England)

8. Gorka Gerediaga (Basque)

9. Hitoshi Chihara (Japan)

10. Yoshihiro Sato (Japan)

11. Taka Tokuriki (Japan)

12. Wataru Sato (Japan)

13. Sota Kaneko (Japan)

14. Natsuhiko Kunitomo (Japan)

15. Takuya Ichizono (Japan)

16. Jesse Takahashi (USA)

17. Shinya (Japan)

Support – Paul Bertier (France) – injured

RESULTS :

Southern Hemisphere Team

v Koryo 10 v 0 (Bati, Kenta)

v  Baku & Clover 5 v 0 (Kenta)

v  5 v 0 (Minamidate)

v  Acorn Club 0 v 10 Loss

v  Goddamns 10 v 0 (Sovita, Bati)

Knockout Stage:

v  ???

v Komaba Watermelonmen (2 v 0????)

Southern Side :

1. Apisai Bati (c) (Fiji)

2. Sovita Tui (Fiji)

3. Joseph Vanualailai (Fiji)

4. Nathan Corrie (Fiji)

5. John Tora (Fiji)

6. Arthur Levula (Fiji)

7. Murray Clarke (NZ)

8. Max Manson (NZ)

9. Daniel Warden (NZ)

10. Touch Roy (Australia)

11. Joffa Harris (Australia)

12. Ryo Takahashi (Indonesia via Japan)

13. Toshinori Minamidate (Japan)

13. Kenta Karino (Japan)

14. Tetsuharu Kumagai (Japan)

15. Masakazu Takanori (Japan)

16. Yuki Matsuyuru (Japan)

17. Ken Noguchi (Japan)