2008 Top League Challenge Series

Rugby union competition in Japan 2008 Top League Challenge Series Japan 27 January – 10 February 2008 Kintetsu Liners 1 Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars Kintetsu Liners Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars 6 2007 2009 The 2008 Top League Challenge Series was the 2008 edition of the Top League Challenge Series, a second-tier rugby union competition in Japan, in which teams from regionalised leagues competed for promotion to the Top League for the 2008–09 season. The competition was contested from 27 January to 10 February 2008. Kintetsu Liners and Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars won promotion to the 2008–09 Top League, while Mazda Blue Zoomers and World Fighting Bull progressed to the promotion play-offs. Competition rules and information The top two teams from the regional Top East League, Top West League and Top Kyūshū League qualified to the Top League Challenge Series. The regional league winners participated in Challenge 1, while the runners-up participated in Challenge 2. The top two teams in Challenge 1 won automatic promotion to the 2008–09 Top League, while the third-placed team in Challenge 1 and the Challenge 2 winner qualified to the promotion play-offs. Qualification The teams qualified to the Challenge 1 and Challenge 2 series through the 2007 regional leagues. Top West League The final standings for the 2007 Top West League were:http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/StagioneCompetizioni.aspx?ID=98&Stagione=2007/08 West Regional Top League 2007/08 The Rugby Archive 23 January 2017 2007 Top West League First Phase standings Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts 1 World Fighting Bull (R) 6 6 0 0 251 82 +169 5 0 29 2 Honda Heat 6 4 1 1 323 93 +230 5 1 24 3 Kintetsu Liners 6 4 0 2 219 170 +112 3 1 20 4 Toyota Industries Shuttles 6 3 1 2 222 118 +104 3 0 17 5 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes 6 2 0 4 145 217 −72 2 0 10 6 Osaka Police 6 1 0 5 67 288 −221 1 0 5 7 Chubu Electric Power 6 0 0 6 67 389 −322 1 0 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. (R) indicates a team newly relegated from the Top League. Honda Heat, Kintetsu Liners and World Fighting Bull qualified to the Second Phase. 2007 Top West League Second Phase standings Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts 1 Kintetsu Liners 2 2 0 0 65 32 +33 1 0 9 2 World Fighting Bull (R) 2 1 0 1 44 37 +7 1 1 6 3 Honda Heat 2 0 0 2 26 66 −40 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. (R) indicates a team newly relegated from the Top League. Kintetsu Liners qualified for Challenge 1. World Fighting Bull qualified for Challenge 2. Top East League The final standings for the 2007 Top East League were:http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/StagioneCompetizioni.aspx?ID=99&Stagione=2007/08 East Regional Top League 2007/08 The Rugby Archive 23 January 2017 2007 Top East League standings Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts 1 Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars 10 10 0 0 466 85 +381 9 0 49 2 Secom Rugguts (R) 10 9 0 1 458 112 +346 7 0 43 3 NTT Communications Shining Arcs 10 8 0 2 444 113 +331 8 1 41 4 Suntory Foods 10 7 0 3 254 199 +55 7 0 35 5 Tokyo Gas 10 5 0 5 272 259 +13 5 0 25 6 Kamaishi Seawaves 10 4 0 6 250 229 +21 5 1 22 7 Kurita Water 10 4 0 6 233 328 −95 4 1 21 8 Akita Northern Bullets 10 3 0 7 159 437 −278 1 1 14 9 JAL Wings 10 2 0 8 123 291 −168 1 3 12 10 Insurance Meiji Life Yasuda 10 1 1 8 121 415 −294 1 0 7 11 Shimizu Blue Sharks 10 1 1 8 118 430 −312 0 0 6 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. (R) indicates a team newly relegated from the Top League. Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars qualified for Challenge 1. Secom Rugguts qualified for Challenge 2 after a play-off match against NTT Communications Shining Arcs. The following match was played: Round 1 6 January 2008 Secom Rugguts 16–9 NTT Communications Shining Arcs Insurance Meiji Life Yasuda and Shimizu Blue Sharks were relegated to lower leagues. Top Kyūshū League The final standings for the 2007 Top Kyūshū League were:http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/StagioneCompetizioni.aspx?ID=100&Stagione=2007/08 Kyushu Regional Top League 2007/08 The Rugby Archive 23 January 2017 2007 Top Kyūshū League First Phase standings Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts 1 Mazda Blue Zoomers 5 5 0 0 268 29 +239 5 0 25 2 Chugoku Electric Power 5 3 0 2 145 118 +27 3 1 16 3 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 5 3 0 2 142 98 +44 2 1 15 4 JR Kyūshū Thunders 5 2 0 3 97 183 −86 0 1 9 5 Toshiba Oita (P) 5 1 0 4 78 151 −73 1 2 7 6 Mitsubishi Mizushima 5 1 0 4 69 220 −151 0 1 5 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. (P) indicates a team newly promoted from lower leagues. Chugoku Electric Power, Mazda Blue Zoomers and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries qualified to the Second Phase. Mitsubishi Mizushima were relegated to lower leagues. 2007 Top Kyūshū League Second Phase standings Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts 1 Mazda Blue Zoomers 2 2 0 0 62 22 +40 2 0 10 2 Chugoku Electric Power 2 1 0 1 49 46 +3 1 0 5 3 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 2 0 0 2 25 68 −43 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. Mazda Blue Zoomers qualified for Challenge 1. Chugoku Electric Power qualified for Challenge 2. Challenge 1 Standings The final standings for the 2008 Top League Challenge 1 were:http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/StagioneCompetizioni.aspx?ID=97&Stagione=2007/08 Top League Challenge 2007/08 The Rugby Archive 23 January 2017 2008 Top League Challenge 1 standings Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts 1 Kintetsu Liners 2 2 0 0 77 25 +52 1 0 9 2 Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars 2 1 0 1 62 23 +39 1 0 5 3 Mazda Blue Zoomers 2 0 0 2 13 104 −91 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. Kintetsu Liners and Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars won promotion to the 2008–09 Top League. Mazda Blue Zoomers progressed to the promotion play-offs. Matches The following matches were played in the 2008 Top League Challenge 1: 27 January 2008 Kintetsu Liners 54–13 Mazda Blue Zoomers 2 February 2008 Mazda Blue Zoomers 0–50 Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars 10 February 2008 Yokogawa Musashino Atlastars 12–23 Kintetsu Liners Challenge 2 Standings The final standings for the 2008 Top League Challenge 2 were: 2008 Top League Challenge 2 standings Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts 1 World Fighting Bull 2 2 0 0 122 3 +119 1 0 9 2 Secom Rugguts 2 1 0 1 83 15 +68 1 1 6 3 Chugoku Electric Power 2 0 0 2 5 192 −187 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. World Fighting Bull progressed to the promotion play-offs. Matches The following matches were played in the 2008 Top League Challenge 2: 27 January 2008 World Fighting Bull 112–0 Chugoku Electric Power 2 February 2008 Chugoku Electric Power 5–80 Secom Rugguts 10 February 2008 Secom Rugguts 3–10 World Fighting Bull See also 2007–08 Top League Top League Challenge Series References 2008 Challenge Category:2007–08 in Japanese rugby union Category:2008 rugby union tournaments for clubs