Match Report: VS Kichijoji Wild Turkeys

A hot day, blue skies and a freshly cut grass pitch at Inagi Stadium provided the backdrop for Tokyo Gaijin’s opening Shuto League fixture against the Kichijoji Wild Turkeys (WT).

First Half

Both sides began by looking to establish themselves through strong carries, secure possession and gain territory. With conditions ideal for expansive rugby, the opening exchanges were lively, but ambitious offloads and handling errors in contact and at the breakdown made for a stop-start first 20 minutes, with scrums becoming a regular feature. Both teams were keen to play, but perhaps a little too eager to force the issue as they tried to figure each other out.

The WT fly-half proved a persistent threat, keeping TG on the back foot with clever kicks into the space behind the defensive line. As the clock approached 25 minutes, neither side had managed to break the deadlock.

Tokyo Gaijin eventually found themselves deep in WT territory, where powerful carries from Tommy, Bert and debutant Ged helped punch holes in the defence. Tommy was particularly prominent, with his dominant carrying and powerful scrummaging regularly drawing multiple defenders and creating space for those around him. With pressure building inside the WT 22, a pre-planned move involving Augustin and the centres created space out wide. Conan, Lelio and Martin combined down the right, with Lelio powering through contact before producing a cheeky out-the-back offload to Martin, who crossed for TG’s opening try. It was a high-risk pass, but one that paid off. After a cagey opening, Tokyo Gaijin had drawn first blood.

TG soon added a second. A scrum on halfway provided the platform for a rehearsed strike move, with a powerful shove from the pack generating front-foot ball. Augustin and Yu executed an intricate looping move through midfield, creating an overlap on the open side. Conan drew the final defender and put Terry into space on the left wing. As the covering defender closed in, Terry showed excellent awareness and timing, releasing a deft offload to the supporting Martin, who finished the move for his second try of the half. Augustin converted, giving TG a 12–0 lead.

Tokyo Gaijin had found their rhythm and finished the half strongly, with the forwards providing a solid platform and the backs beginning to find space out wide.

Second Half

Tokyo Gaijin made early changes after the break, with Wataru, Sean and Natsu coming on to inject fresh energy as the heat began to take its toll.

The Wild Turkeys struck first. A well-worked set-piece created an overlap on the left wing after a defensive misread from TG, allowing WT to score their opening try of the half. The conversion was missed, but the visitors had a foothold in the game.

TG responded immediately. Augustin burst down the left wing, jinking past several defenders and steamrolling over a covering defender before delivering a perfectly timed inside pass to Clement, who went over under the posts. The conversion was successful, restoring TG’s advantage at 19–5.

WT hit back shortly afterwards. Their fly-half drew two defenders before offloading beautifully to a supporting centre, who broke through to score. The conversion was added, reducing the deficit to 19–12.

Tokyo Gaijin needed a response, and once again the forwards provided the platform. Strong carries from Bert, Yuta and Ged put TG on the front foot as both teams began to tire. Clement then spotted a gap around halfway, jinking between two defenders and stepping the covering defence to score a superb solo try. The conversion was successful, extending the lead to 26–12.

Further changes brought Luis, Hiro, Bob and Taku into the game, adding fresh legs as TG looked to maintain their momentum. From the kick-off receipt, Bert made another powerful carry, allowing the backs to move the ball quickly through the hands. Augustin then used a strong hand-off to break through the defensive line and score in the corner. The conversion was missed, but TG had stretched their lead to 31–12.

The Wild Turkeys refused to go quietly, mounting sustained pressure through repeated carries inside the TG 22. Tokyo Gaijin struggled to contain the attack around the fringes of the ruck, and a lapse in communication and one-on-one tackling allowed WT to score a relatively soft try. The conversion was successful, bringing the score to 31–19.

With only minutes remaining, TG responded again. Taro spotted space near the right touchline and powered over from close range for another well-taken try. The conversion was missed, leaving the score at 36–19.

There was still time for one final flourish. From inside his own half, Conan kicked through towards the WT try line, giving the ball enough weight to bounce awkwardly for the covering defender. The kick chase from Conan and Martin applied pressure, forcing a fumble, and Martin pounced on the loose ball to complete his hat-trick. The conversion was successful, taking TG to 43–19.

The final whistle followed shortly afterwards, confirming a convincing 43–19 victory for Tokyo Gaijin in their opening Shuto League fixture. The Wild Turkeys had their moments, particularly early in the second half, but TG’s attacking threat and ability to respond whenever pressure mounted proved decisive.

Man of the Match

The MVP award went to debutant Ged, who delivered a dominant performance in his first outing for Tokyo Gaijin. His strength and intensity were evident throughout, making an impact across all facets of the game and helping provide the forward platform that allowed TG’s attacking players to flourish. A superb debut and a thoroughly deserved award.

Post-Match

The celebrations continued at a nearby izakaya, where the team reflected on a strong opening performance and enjoyed a well-earned drink after a hot afternoon on the pitch.

The occasion also marked James’ final game for Tokyo Gaijin before his return to the United States. James has been a great member of the club both on and off the pitch, and his contribution, commitment and character will be greatly missed by everyone at TG. The team made sure to celebrate his final appearance properly as they raised a glass to his time with the club and wished him all the best for the next chapter.

With the first win of the Shuto League campaign secured, attention now turns to the next challenge: the Keio Hirayama Highlanders on Sunday, 25 October. TG will be looking to carry this attacking momentum into the next fixture while continuing to sharpen up defensively as the season progresses.

Match Gallery

Inagi Stadium • Round 1