There are times when the losers have more stories to tell than the winners, and that was the case on Sunday, when the Kajima Deers lost to the defending X League champion Obic Seagulls 21-12 in the Final Four playoffs at Yokohama Stadium.

The Seagulls advanced to the Japan X Bowl for the the League championship.

It was the final game for the two-time national champion Deers, who have been one of the elite teams since joining the corporate league in 1990.