Olivers Twist in the Gaijin Fist

Dateline 10th April 2016

 

Misato Sankei Sports Area proved a fine venue for an eleven try thrashing of Olivers RFC by a fully pumped if injury depleted Gaijin squad in their opening game of this year’s Tokyo Cup.

In keeping with recent form the Gaijin started strongly, winning back their own kickoff and taking a scrum against the head before the turbo-charged open-side Mosese Nasegasega roared over on the eight minute mark for the first score in his stupendous five try blitz.  The rest of the first half match-log reads like the try fest that it was, with additional five-pointers falling to captain and blind-side Appisai Bati, crash ball centre Jeremy Burns, lock Gorka Gerediaga, and number eight Takashi Tanikawa. 

 

As half time arrived – with only two substitutes available to the skeletal 17 man squad – the 41-5 point surplus nevertheless enabled injured skipper Bati to hand over captaincy to full-back Toshinori Minamidate who went into the second half with a good aerial phase and ball stealing performance already to his credit.  Joffa Harris took over the flank spot, and ten minutes later an embattled but impressive Yoshihiro Sato came off for the fresh legs of Paul Bertier – leaving the Gaijin 30 minutes, no substitutes and a silent prayer to ward off the risk of injury.

 

Before the game’s end Joffa Harris and rampant man of the match lock Barry Lobendahn would get in on the try action with one a piece, but in the work behind the tries lies the real story of the game.  Both halves saw impressive linking between forwards and backs.  Defence, if not ferocious, was at least solid, and the overall level of Gaijin dominance had referee Mr. Fukuda of the JERFU whistling up a succession of penalties to the Gaijin tune.  

 

Lobendahn put in a truly massive performance with enough kick-off catches, ball carries and donkey work to make ‘Big Baz’ the dominant face in a game filled with valiant personal performances.  When he was forced off the pitch with a shoulder injury the Gaijin played out the final five minutes with 14 men and did so without serious difficulty.  Winger Akira Yamagen handled kicking duties and the match ended with the Gaijin 65 – Olivers 17. 

 

Men of the match: Barry Lobendahn for an immense ball carrying and possession winning performance. However the incredible try scoring performance of Mosese Nasegasega must deserve a mention here.

 

Goat: Akira Yamagen for missing a kick in front of the posts (although forward passes from quarterbacks Joffa Harris and Jeremy Burns were worth seeing too.)

 

Final score:  Tokyo Gaijin RFC 65 – Olivers RFC 17

Scorers: TGRFC 65. 

Tries: Mosese Nasegasega 5, Appisai Bati 1, Jeremy Burns 1, Gorka Gerediaga 1, Takashi Tanikawa 1, Barry Lobendahn 1 and Joffa Harris 1.  

Conversions: Akira Yamagen 5/11

 

Team:

Supporters: Murray Clarke, Liam Ramshaw, Natsuhiko Kunitomo, Jesse Takahashi, Dan Barnett, Taku Eguchi, Warren Adamson, Rieko Suzuki, Mana chan and (future star) Kairu Lobendahn.