A flurry of late tries propelled Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay to a 39-24 victory Saturday over Tokyo Sungoliath in a preview of their upcoming Japan Rugby League One championship playoff semifinal.

Spears and Sungoliath came into the ultimate round of the regular season already locked into a May 14 semifinal meeting as the league's second- and third-place finishers, respectively.

Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay's Takeo Suenaga scores a try against Tokyo Sungoliath in the second half of their Japan Rugby League One match at Edogawa Stadium in Tokyo on April 22, 2023. (Kyodo)

Sungoliath had not led until a penalty try put them up 19-15 in the 58th minute at Edogawa Stadium in Tokyo. The 2021-22 runners-up extended the lead to 24-15 through Shunta Nakamura's five-pointer while two Spears players sat in the sin bin.

Sione Teaupa's converted try brought Spears back within two before Frans Ludeke's men ran away with the result. Following Sungoliath flyhalf Hikaru Tamura's 72nd-minute yellow card, Spears scored further tries through Ruan Botha, Gerhard van den Heever and Takeo Suenaga.

In Saturday's other first-division action, Black Rams Tokyo beat Sagamihara Dynaboars 31-21, while Green Rockets Tokatsu were 43-26 winners against Hanazono Liners.

Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay's Haruto Kida (R) slips through an attempted tackle from Tokyo Sungoliath's Kotaro Matsushima on the way to scoring a try in the second half of their Japan Rugby League One match at Edogawa Stadium in Tokyo on April 22, 2023. (Kyodo)