The Embassy of Japan and Japan Society XV vs Commons & Lords RFC

6 November 2010

The Commons & Lords, sponsored again by Fujitsu, kicked off the 2010/11 season with a match against one of our oldest Parliamentary rugby playing friends, an invitation XV from the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Society.  The C&L have a long history of playing the Japanese since our first match in 1993. Both teams had been well prepared both mentally and physically. It was a crisp, dry, sunny, autumnal morn that greeted the players in South West London. Lord Addington, with Ian Davidson MP, led the C&L charge, whilst Minister Keiichi Hayashi took the reins for the opposition. The match was kicked off by Minister Hayashi and it proved to be a tough, bruising encounter, with both teams playing hard. The C&L scored first – a sweeping six man try culminated in Ian Davidson MP, displaying a remarkable moment of unselfishness, passing just before the line to set up one of his team mates for the try. It remained 5-0 to the C&L until eight minutes before the end of the match.
At that point, as the Japan XV were pushing hard, they upped their game and their constant pressure finally paid off; the C&L defence was overcome and Mr Hiroto Motoyama scored.

Time was called and the match finished in an honourable draw, with the Fujitsu cup being awarded to the Japan Embassy & Japan Society XV on the away try rule. The Fujitsu man of the match was presented to Mr Motoyama, who accepted his prize of a pint of Guinness there and then!

To the photogallery–> Fujitsucup