Kobe Kobelco Steelers ran in 12 tries in a 74-10 drubbing of Hino Red Dolphins on Sunday to remain unbeaten in the Japan Rugby Top League.

Rookie wing Shinsuke Iseki touched down four times and center Richard Buckman bagged a hat-trick at Osaka's Kincho Stadium as Dave Dillons's side moved top of the Red Conference with 20 points, two more than Toyota Verblitz.

Suntory Sungoliath are third with 16 points following their 35-24 win over Toyota Industries Shuttles, who are fifth with 12 points.

NTT Communications Shining Arcs moved into fourth spot on 13 points despite losing 34-31 to NEC Green Rockets, Brackin Karauria-Henry's late try ensuring Rob Penney's side got a bonus point for losing by seven or less.

This season, the league's 16 teams have been split into two Conferences -- Red and White. Following seven rounds of pool games the top four sides from each group will play for the league title.

The bottom eight sides will fight it out to determine which four will enter relegation/promotion playoffs with the top four teams from the second-division Top Challenge League.

(Shinsuke Iseki, right, of Kobe Kobelco Steelers is on his way to scoring a try)

In the day's only game in the White Conference, Japan lock Samuela Anise scored two tries as Canon beat Coca-Cola Red Sparks 43-24 to keep the Eagles' hopes of a top-four finish alive.

Panasonic Wild Knights head the group with 22 points, three more than Yamaha Jubilo, with Ricoh Black Rams third on 15 points. Kubota Spears are a point behind in fourth, Canon fifth with 12 and Toshiba Brave Lupus sixth on 11.

In Osaka, the Red Dolphins opened and closed the first-half scoring with a penalty from Shigenori Someyama and try by wing Jeong Yeon Sik.

But Kobe No. 8 Isileli Nakajima powered over shortly after the penalty and the Steelers never looked back.

Andy Ellis finished off a good break from Nick Ealey, Buckman scored from an intercept, Iseki bagged a brace and Matt Vant Leven powered over as Kobe led 36-10 at the break.

Buckman added a second shortly after the break as did Nakajima as Hino had no match for the Steelers' power and well-executed driving mauls.

Man-of-the-match Iseki's third try came in the 65th minute from yet more relentless pressure from the Kobe pack. Buckman completed his hat-trick five minutes later, before Akihiro Shimizu and Iseki rounded off the scoring.

(Takaaki Nakazuru, center, of Suntory Sungoliath runs with the ball)