HO Shimizu Exploits Defensive Gaps
Waseda University and Keio University—true archrivals. They have always stood side by side, constantly compared in every aspect. For both, the opponent they can never afford to lose to is each other—the Waseda-Keio rivalry. This holds true in the world of rugby as well. The long, deeply intertwined tradition of this classic matchup has carved a new page in history on unfamiliar ground.
Played under strong winds, Waseda fearlessly connected the ball from their own half, fully unleashing their signature attacking rugby. The forwards’ strength in the scrum and the backs’ expansive play paid off, leading to a string of scores. The first half ended 29-0.
In the second half, Waseda kept up the offensive pressure. However, they conceded a try from Keio’s trademark lineout maul. After that, players making their debut in the “Red and Black” injected momentum into Waseda’s attack, pulling away from Keio. When the final whistle blew, Waseda held a 63-5 lead, sealing the traditional clash.
This was the first Waseda-Keio match held in the Tohoku region. Before kickoff, the Hirosaki Sakura Ovules performed a “Hirosaki Haka” as a welcome for fans who traveled from across the country to witness the classic battle. The game kicked off with a start from fly-half Ryota Hattori (Sports 3, Saga Technical High School).
Waseda immediately pressed into Keio’s territory. Keio showed sharp defense near their goal line but committed repeated infractions. Despite building several lineout mauls from Keio’s penalties, Waseda struggled to convert them into points.
Fly-half Hattori Directs the Game
The long-awaited first score came in the 10th minute. Center Junsei Shimada (Sports 3, Fukuoka Shuyukan) passed through the back door to Hattori, who linked with fullback Taichi Ueki (Humanities 3, Kanagawa Kanto Gakuin Muromi). Wing Kanda Hiroshi (Sports 4, Okayama Kurashiki) then dived into the in-goal area, making it 5-0.
In the 22nd minute, after Waseda’s backs made a series of errors, No. 8 Shintaro Nojima (Education 4, Tokai University Osaka Seiko) roared “Waseda Energy!” from a scrum. Waseda then won a penalty, with the forwards making up for the backs’ mistakes.