The Kobe Kobelco Steelers were crowned the inaugural champions of the Top League, when they defeated the NEC Green Rockets 31-21 at Kobe Wing Stadium on Sunday.
Kobe Kobelco Steelers forward Yuya Saito is tackled by Takashi Tsuji of the NEC Green Rockets during first-half action in their Top League match at Kobe Wing.
Veteran national team members Daisuke Ohata and Takeomi Ito both scored two tries for Kobe but the Steelers needed the result at Tokyo's Chichibunomiya to go their way if they were to win the new professional league.