Yusuke Niwai and Burua Inoke scored two tries apiece Sunday as Yokohama Eagles stayed on track for the Japan Rugby League One championship playoffs by beating struggling Green Rockets Tokatsu 45-17.
With two rounds of the regular season left to play, the bonus-point win at Kashiwanoha Park Stadium gave the fourth-place Eagles a five-point buffer over fifth-place Brave Lupus Tokyo in the battle for the fourth and final playoff spot.
Green Rockets, gunning for just their third win, produced positive moments in attack but were consistently outmuscled by the Eagles pack in the seven-tries-to-three loss.
Niwai dotted down for the opening try as the Eagles pack mauled across following a lineout in the seventh minute. The hooker brought up his brace in similar fashion 11 minutes later for a 14-0 lead upon Yu Tamura adding his second conversion.
Fijian winger Inoke crossed in the 55th and 79th minutes to bring his season tally to 12 tries.
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