Former All Black halfback TJ Perenara opened the scoring for his RICOH Black Rams in their Japan League One loss last weekend against the Kubota Spears.
The Black Rams, who have only won one game this year, were looking to bounce back and beat the high-flying Spears, who now have three wins from their opening five games.
The Spears had the luxury of bringing one Test All Black Shaun Stevenson off the bench in the second half, to add impact to an already in-form backline.
Stevenson came off the bench in the 50th minute, proving to be an important substitution as the Kubota Spears ran in two second-half tries to beat Perenara’s side.
Perenara, who has played halfback for most, if not all of his rugby career, donned the No. 10 jersey on the weekend.
Perenara was on the end of a slick backline move that ended with Perenara strolling in next to the posts. It was a hot start for the Black Rams, as the part-time first five opened the scoring in the 11th minute.
Former Wallabies first-five Bernard Foley kept the Spears in touching distance throughout the game, scoring 11 points off the boot out of the Spears’ 26 points.
Taiyo Lotoahea crossed the line in the corner for the Black Rams after a line break by Perenara, who made the pass to Kotaro Ito before the final pass set up Lotoahea for an easy finish.
The Black Rams currently sit second to last on the Japan League One table, ahead of next weekend’s clash away at the Kobelco Kobe Steelers.
Shaun Stevenson and the Kubota Spears take on the Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars next Saturday.
