Top League Round One Highlights: Hino Red Dolphins v Munakata Sanix Blues
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Not much would have been expected of the Hino Red Dolphin as they searched for their first Japan Top League. First on the scored were Munakata Sanx Blues with a penalty conversion through Hiroshi Tashiro. Many would have expected the Blues to go on and win the game after a good start but the Dolphin's had other plans as they quickly equalised through the boot of Hayden Cripps in the 10th minute. Man-of-the-Match, Ash Parker then crossed the whitewash in the 28th minute with substitute Shigeyoshi Shikayama converting. The Dolphins were not about to give the Blues a break as they added 7 more points through a converted try by Norifumi Hashimoto. This meant that the Hino Red Dolphins went into the break 17-3 up.
The second half was a half the Blues would want to quickly forget as they failed to trouble the scoreboard. In the 41st minute, the Dolphins won a penalty and through the reliable boot of Shikayama were able to add 3 more points to the scoreboard. A good 15 minutes then went by without any change in the score. However, the Blues made a wholesale as of changes as they tried to change their fortunes. But the fortunes only favoured the brave and mighty Hino Red Dolphins as they managed a further 2 penalty conversions and converted try which was scored by Ash Parker to secure his brace and maximum points for the new Hino Red Dolphins.