Saitama Wild Knights continued their perfect start to the Japan Rugby League One season on Saturday, powering past Black Rams Tokyo 44-17 for their third straight win in Division 1.

Japan hooker Atsushi Sakate scored the first two tries of the match, while wing Ryuji Noguchi also went over twice before the break at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium as Black Rams suffered their third straight defeat.

Saitama Wild Knights' Atsushi Sakate (C) scores a try during the first half of a Japan Rugby League One match against Black Rams Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2023, in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture. (Kyodo)

While Sakate dove in from a lineout maul in the 10th minute, Black Rams responded with a long attacking spell and flyhalf Matt McGahan eventually kicked a 24th-minute penalty.

But Sakate again escaped the Black Rams' attention to ground his second try just two minutes later from another lineout maul. Rikiya Matsuda added the extras before the Japan flyhalf's drop goal extended the lead to 15-3 in the 34th minute.

Noguchi put the Wild Knights in total control late in the half. Passes from Matsuda and fullback Koki Takeyama released the wing down the left for his first try before Matsuda picked him out with a precise punt en route to the teams' fourth and a 25-3 lead at the break.

Saitama Wild Knights' Rikiya Matsuda (L) kicks a drop goal during the first half of a Japan Rugby League One match against Black Rams Tokyo on Dec. 23, 2023, in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture. (Kyodo)

Matsuda embarked on an incisive run to set up Wild Knights' first try after the break with his World Cup teammates Keita Inagaki and substitute Shota Horie passing the ball on for young Brave Blossom Tomoki Osada to cross in the 50th minute.

Netani Vakayalia's long run set up Black Rams' first try three minutes later by fullback Isaac Lucas, only for Horie to cross on another lineout maul for Wild Knights in the 69th minute.

With five minutes to go, South Africa's two-time World Cup winner Damian de Allende set up Keisuke Uchida for their seventh try with a superb run from inside his own half. At the other end, Lucas returned the favor to Vakayalia for the game's final try.

Elsewhere, Shunta Nakamura scored a second-half hat-trick of tries for Yokohama Eagles in a 66-26 win over winless Hanazono Liners. Toyota Verblitz won 54-40 to hand Sagamihara Dynaboars their first defeat of the season.

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