2018–19 Top League Cup

The 2018–19 Top League Cup was the inaugural edition of the Top League Cup, a cup competition for Japan's Top League teams.

2018–19 Top League Cup
CountriesJapan
Date10 November 2018 – 19 January 2019
2019 →

Competition rules

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The sixteen Top League teams were divided into four pools for the first stage of the competition; each team played the three other teams in their pools once.

All sixteen teams then progressed to a play-off stage; the top teams in each pool advanced to the cup play-offs, the second-placed teams in each pool to the 5th-place play-offs, the third-placed teams in each pool to the 9th-place play-offs and the bottom teams in each pool to the 13th-place play-offs, which determined the final positions for the season.

Teams

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The following teams took part in the 2018–19 Top League Cup competition:

2018–19 Top League Cup Pool A
Team name Region
Honda Heat Suzuka, Mie Prefecture
NTT Communications Shining Arcs Chiba, Chiba, Kanto
Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo, Kanto
Suntory Sungoliath Fuchu, Tokyo, Kanto
2018–19 Top League Cup Pool B
Team name Region
Canon Eagles Machida, Tokyo, Kanto
Hino Red Dolphins Hino, Tokyo Metropolis
NEC Green Rockets Abiko, Chiba, Kanto
Panasonic Wild Knights Ota, Gunma, Kanto
2018–19 Top League Cup Pool C
Team name Region
Kobelco Steelers Kobe, Kansai
Kubota Spears Abiko, Chiba, Kanto
Munakata Sanix Blues Munakata, Fukuoka, Kyushu
Yamaha Júbilo Iwata, Shizuoka, Tokai
2018–19 Top League Cup Pool D
Team name Region
Coca-Cola Red Sparks Fukuoka, Kyushu
Toshiba Brave Lupus Fuchu, Tokyo, Kanto
Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi, Mizuho
Toyota Verblitz Toyota, Aichi, Tokai

First Stage : Pool A

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Standings

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The current standings for the 2018–19 Top League Cup First Stage Pool A are:

2018–19 Top League Cup First Stage Pool A standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1 Suntory Sungoliath 3 3 0 0 102 36 +66 1 0 13
2 NTT Communications Shining Arcs 3 2 0 1 118 88 +30 1 1 10
3 Ricoh Black Rams 3 1 0 2 86 97 −11 1 1 6
4 Honda Heat 3 0 0 3 62 147 −85 0 0 0
Legend:
P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points.

The top team qualified for the cup play-offs.
The second-placed team qualified to the 5th-place play-offs.
The third-placed team qualified to the 9th-place play-offs.
The bottom-placed teams qualified to the 13th-place play-offs.

Matches

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The 2018–19 Top League Cup First Stage Pool A fixtures are:[1]

Round 1

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11 November 2018 NTT Communications Shining Arcs 52–24 Ricoh Black Rams Iwagin Stadium  
13:00 Scoreboard[2] Attendance: 2,033


11 November 2018 Suntory Sungoliath 55–0 Honda Heat Akigin Stadium  
12:30 Scoreboard[3] Attendance: 2,256

Round 2

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17 November 2018 Ricoh Black Rams 10–14 Suntory Sungoliath NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium  
13:00 Scoreboard[4] Attendance: 3,053


18 November 2018 Honda Heat 31–40 NTT Communications Shining Arcs Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
11:30 Scoreboard[5] Attendance: 2,592

Round 3

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24 November 2018 Honda Heat 31–52 Ricoh Black Rams Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
11:30 Scoreboard[6] Attendance: 2,638


24 November 2018 Suntory Sungoliath 33–26 NTT Communications Shining Arcs Kincho Stadium  
13:00 Scoreboard[7] Attendance: 1,871

First Stage : Pool B

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Standings

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The current standings for the 2018–19 Top League Cup First Stage Pool B are:

2018–19 Top League Cup First Stage Pool B standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1 Panasonic Wild Knights 3 3 0 0 109 88 +21 0 0 12
2 Canon Eagles 3 2 0 1 73 55 +18 0 1 9
3 NEC Green Rockets 3 1 0 2 111 55 +56 1 1 6
4 Hino Red Dolphins 3 0 0 3 28 123 −95 0 0 0
Legend:
P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points.

The top team qualified for the cup play-offs.
The second-placed team qualified to the 5th-place play-offs.
The third-placed team qualified to the 9th-place play-offs.
The bottom-placed teams qualified to the 13th-place play-offs.

Matches

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The 2018–19 Top League Cup First Stage Pool B fixtures are:[1]

Round 1

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10 November 2018 Canon Eagles 20–7 Hino Red Dolphins Machida Stadium  
14:00 Scoreboard[8] Attendance: 3,133


11 November 2018 Panasonic Wild Knights 38–31 NEC Green Rockets Ashikaga Undojo  
13:00 Scoreboard[9] Attendance: 1,956

Round 2

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18 November 2018 Hino Red Dolphins 21–30 Panasonic Wild Knights Ningineer Stadium  
13:00 Scoreboard[10] Attendance: 1,890


18 November 2018 Canon Eagles 17–7 NEC Green Rockets Miyazaki Athletic Stadium  
13:00 Scoreboard[11] Attendance: 2,067

Round 3

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24 November 2018 NEC Green Rockets 73–0 Hino Red Dolphins Kumagaya Athletic Stadium  
11:30 Scoreboard[12] Attendance: 3,013


24 November 2018 Panasonic Wild Knights 41–36 Canon Eagles Kumagaya Athletic Stadium  
14:00 Scoreboard[13] Attendance: 4,327

First Stage : Pool C

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Standings

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The current standings for the 2018–19 Top League Cup First Stage Pool C are:

2018–19 Top League Cup First Stage Pool C standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1 Kubota Spears 3 3 0 0 90 50 +40 1 0 13
2 Kobelco Steelers 3 2 0 1 173 41 +132 2 1 11
3 Yamaha Júbilo 3 1 0 2 80 137 −57 1 0 5
4 Munakata Sanix Blues 3 0 0 3 28 143 −115 0 0 0
Legend:
P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points.

The top team qualified for the cup play-offs.
The second-placed team qualified to the 5th-place play-offs.
The third-placed team qualified to the 9th-place play-offs.
The bottom-placed teams qualified to the 13th-place play-offs.

Matches

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The 2018–19 Top League Cup First Stage Pool C fixtures are:[1]

Round 1

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11 November 2018 Kubota Spears 42–14 Munakata Sanix Blues Niigata Athletic Stadium  
13:00 Scoreboard[14] Attendance: 1,484


11 November 2018 Kobelco Steelers 99–17 Yamaha Júbilo Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium  
13:00 Scoreboard[15] Attendance: 6,788

Round 2

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17 November 2018 Kubota Spears 24–22 Kobelco Steelers Kincho Stadium  
13:00 Scoreboard[16] Attendance: 3,840


17 November 2018 Munakata Sanix Blues 14–49 Yamaha Júbilo Level5 Stadium  
14:00 Scoreboard[17] Attendance: 8,483

Round 3

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25 November 2018 Yamaha Júbilo 14–24 Kubota Spears Enshunada Coastal Park  
13:00 Scoreboard[18] Attendance: 2,789


25 November 2018 Kobelco Steelers 52–0 Munakata Sanix Blues Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium  
13:00 Scoreboard[19] Attendance: 5,852

First Stage : Pool D

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Standings

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The current standings for the 2018–19 Top League Cup First Stage Pool D are:

2018–19 Top League Cup First Stage Pool D standings
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1 Toyota Verblitz 3 3 0 0 107 65 +42 0 0 12
2 Toshiba Brave Lupus 3 2 0 1 122 87 +35 2 0 10
3 Toyota Industries Shuttles 3 1 0 2 74 101 −27 0 0 4
4 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 3 0 0 3 62 112 −50 0 1 1
Legend:
P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points.

The top team qualified for the cup play-offs.
The second-placed team qualified to the 5th-place play-offs.
The third-placed team qualified to the 9th-place play-offs.
The bottom-placed teams qualified to the 13th-place play-offs.

Matches

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The 2018–19 Top League Cup First Stage Pool D fixtures are:[1]

Round 1

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10 November 2018 Toshiba Brave Lupus 49–27 Toyota Industries Shuttles Machida Stadium  
11:30 Scoreboard[20] Attendance: 1,691


10 November 2018 Toyota Verblitz 35–22 Coca-Cola Red Sparks Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium  
13:00 Scoreboard[21] Attendance: 1,042

Round 2

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17 November 2018 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 21–28 Toyota Industries Shuttles Level5 Stadium  
11:30 Scoreboard[22] Attendance: 5,235


18 November 2018 Toyota Verblitz 41–24 Toshiba Brave Lupus Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Scoreboard[23] Attendance: 4,731

Round 3

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24 November 2018 Toyota Industries Shuttles 19–31 Toyota Verblitz Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium  
14:00 Scoreboard[24]


24 November 2018 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 19–49 Toshiba Brave Lupus Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu  
14:00 Scoreboard[25]

Second stage

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Standings

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The final standings for the 2018–19 Top League Cup were:

2018–19 Top League Cup standings
Pos Team
1 Toyota Verblitz
2 Suntory Sungoliath
3 Panasonic Wild Knights
4 Kubota Spears
5 Toshiba Brave Lupus
6 Kobelco Steelers
7 NTT Communications Shining Arcs
8 Canon Eagles
9 Ricoh Black Rams
10 NEC Green Rockets
11 Yamaha Júbilo
12 Toyota Industries Shuttles
13 Coca-Cola Red Sparks
14 Honda Heat
15 Munakata Sanix Blues
16 Hino Red Dolphins
Top League Cup winners.

Cup play-offs

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The two semi-final winners qualified for the final, while the losers qualified for the 3rd-place match.


Semi-final 13 January 2019 Toyota Verblitz 22–15 Panasonic Wild Knights  
11:45 Scoreboard[26] Attendance: 5,817


Semi-final 13 January 2019 Suntory Sungoliath 39–24 Kubota Spears  
14:00 Scoreboard[27] Attendance: 7,790

The final matches determined the final standings.


Final 19 January 2019 Suntory Sungoliath 34–43 Toyota Verblitz  
14:00 Scoreboard[28] Attendance: 8,222


3rd-place 19 January 2019 Panasonic Wild Knights 24–21 Kubota Spears  
11:30 Scoreboard[29] Attendance: 6,037

5th-place play-offs

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The two 5th-place semi-final winners qualified for the 5th-place match, while the losers qualified for the 7th-place match.


5th-place semi-final 13 January 2019 Toshiba Brave Lupus 45–22 Canon Eagles  
11:30 Scoreboard[30] Attendance: 6,840


5th-place semi-final 13 January 2019 NTT Communications Shining Arcs 35–37 Kobelco Steelers  
14:00 Scoreboard[31] Attendance: 8,990

The final matches determined the final standings.


5th-place 19 January 2019 Kobelco Steelers 28–33 Toshiba Brave Lupus  
14:00 Scoreboard[32] Attendance: 2,524


7th-place 19 January 2019 Canon Eagles 21–62 NTT Communications Shining Arcs  
11:30 Scoreboard[33] Attendance: 1,728

9th-place play-offs

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The two 9th-place semi-final winners qualified for the 9th-place match, while the losers qualified for the 11th-place match.


9th-place semi-final 13 January 2019 Toyota Industries Shuttles 14–20 NEC Green Rockets  
11:30 Scoreboard[34] Attendance: 1,802


9th-place semi-final 13 January 2019 Ricoh Black Rams 51–19 Yamaha Júbilo  
14:00 Scoreboard[35] Attendance: 2,779

The final matches determined the final standings.


9th-place 19 January 2019 Ricoh Black Rams 28–17 NEC Green Rockets  
14:00 Scoreboard[36] Attendance: 1,762


11th-place 19 January 2019 Toyota Industries Shuttles 31–35 Yamaha Júbilo  
11:30 Scoreboard[37] Attendance: 925

13th-place play-offs

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The two 13th-place semi-final winners qualified for the 13th-place match, while the losers qualified for the 15th-place match.


13th-place semi-final 13 January 2019 Coca-Cola Red Sparks 38–7 Hino Red Dolphins  
11:30 Scoreboard[38] Attendance: 1,131


13th-place semi-final 13 January 2019 Honda Heat 49–26 Munakata Sanix Blues  
14:00 Scoreboard[39] Attendance: 2,105

The final matches determined the final standings.


13th-place 19 January 2019 Honda Heat 24–40 Coca-Cola Red Sparks  
14:00 Scoreboard[40] Attendance: 1,683


15th-place 19 January 2019 Hino Red Dolphins 14–19 Munakata Sanix Blues  
11:30 Scoreboard[41] Attendance: 891

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "TL Schedule 2018" (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). Top League. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  2. ^ "NTTコム 対 リコー". Top League (in Japanese). 11 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
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  4. ^ "リコー 対 サントリー". Top League (in Japanese). 17 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Honda 対 NTTコム". Top League (in Japanese). 18 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  6. ^ "Honda 対 リコー". Top League (in Japanese). 24 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  7. ^ "サントリー 対 NTTコム". Top League (in Japanese). 24 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  8. ^ "キヤノン 対 日野". Top League (in Japanese). 10 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  9. ^ "パナソニック 対 NEC". Top League (in Japanese). 11 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  10. ^ "日野 対 パナソニック". Top League (in Japanese). 18 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  11. ^ "キヤノン 対 NEC". Top League (in Japanese). 18 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  12. ^ "NEC 対 日野". Top League (in Japanese). 24 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  13. ^ "パナソニック 対 キヤノン". Top League (in Japanese). 24 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  14. ^ "クボタ 対 宗像サニックス". Top League (in Japanese). 11 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
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  16. ^ "クボタ 対 神戸製鋼". Top League (in Japanese). 17 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
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  26. ^ "トヨタ自動車 対 パナソニック". Top League (in Japanese). 13 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
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  28. ^ "サントリー 対 トヨタ自動車". Top League (in Japanese). 19 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
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  31. ^ "NTTコム 対 神戸製鋼". Top League (in Japanese). 13 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  32. ^ "神戸製鋼 対 東芝". Top League (in Japanese). 19 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  33. ^ "キヤノン 対 NTTコム". Top League (in Japanese). 19 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  34. ^ "豊田自動織機 対 NEC". Top League (in Japanese). 13 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  35. ^ "リコー 対 ヤマハ発動機". Top League (in Japanese). 13 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  36. ^ "リコー 対 NEC". Top League (in Japanese). 19 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  37. ^ "豊田自動織機 対 ヤマハ発動機". Top League (in Japanese). 19 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  38. ^ "コカ・コーラ 対 日野". Top League (in Japanese). 13 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  39. ^ "Honda 対 宗像サニックス". Top League (in Japanese). 13 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  40. ^ "Honda 対 コカ・コーラ". Top League (in Japanese). 19 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  41. ^ "日野 対 宗像サニックス". Top League (in Japanese). 19 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.