Defending champions Saitama Wild Knights overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to run away 41-29 winners against Tokyo Sungoliath in a rematch of last year's Japan Rugby League One playoff final on Saturday.

Trailing 17-3 at the break, Robbie Deans' men ran in five second-half tries at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground as they remained unbeaten on top of the standings with 11 straight wins since the opening round.

Dylan Riley of Saitama Wild Knights scores a try in the second half of a Japan Rugby League One match against Tokyo Sungoliath at Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground on March 11, 2023. (Kyodo)

Wild Knights flanker Lachlan Boshier scored two tries, while Japan flyhalf Rikiya Matsuda logged 16 points in his return to Saitama's starting lineup after missing last week's top-of-the-table clash against Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay due to concussion.

Matsuda's 30th-minute penalty was Saitama's only first-half contribution to the scoreboard, but the league leaders found their footing from the start of the second half.

Boshier crossed for his first try five minutes after the break, with Matsuda adding the extras to cut the deficit to 17-10.

Try-scoring machine Seiya Ozaki's league-best 16th five-pointer of the season, plus Aaron Cruden's conversion, pushed Sungoliath's lead back out to 24-10 before Wild Knight put the contest in a stranglehold.

Saitama registered the next four tries, with Boshier, Dylan Riley, Takuya Yamasawa and Tomoki Osada helping establish a 41-24 advantage before Taiga Ozaki scored what amounted to a consolation try for Sungoliath after the 80-minute mark.

In Saturday's other League One action, Spears racked up a 40-27 win on the road against Shizuoka BlueRevs, while visiting Toyota Verblitz overran winless Hanazono Liners 62-24.