Japan win in Suva

Asian champions Japan beat Oceania champions Fiji 24-15 in the first match of their two test tour after leading by only two points, 10-8, at half-time. Fiji were again let down by poor discipline, with two yellow cards - one after 33 minutes of the first half, a second 11 minutes into the second half - meaning that they played with just 14 players for a quarter of the game.

Fiji opened the scoring with a try from Nunia UluIkadavu after just three minutes The conversion was missed, however, and when Yoshimura Otoha's score for Japan was converted in the 16th minute Japan lead, and a penalty from Minoru Yamamoto put Japan ahead eight minutes later extended their lead to 10-5

Despite being down to 14 players, Luisa Tisolo's penalty narrowed the scores to 10-8 just before the break.

The second Fijian yellow card proved more costly in the second half, Moe Tsukui scoring just two minutes after it was awarded putting Japan further ahead, 17-8. Once back to full strength Fiji again pulled the game back with a Merewairita Neivosa try (17-15), but Sakurako Hatada try for Japan gave the visitors back their nine point advantage which they held to the end.

Fiji: 1 Ana KOROVATA; 2 Litia MARAMA; 3 Vika MATARUGU; 4 Doreen NAROKETE; 5 Mereoni NAKESA; 6 Nunia ULUIKADAVU; 7 Sulita WAISEGA; 8 Fulori NABURA; 9 Evivi SENIKARIVI; Ten Merewalesi ROKOUONO; 11 Merewairita NEIVOSA; 12 Merewai CUMU (Capt); 13 Atelaite BUNA; 14 Adita MILINIA; 15 Luisa TISOLO; 16 Keleni MARAWA; 17 Loraini SENIVUTU; 18 Tiana ROBANAKADAVU; 19 Asinate SEREVI; 20 AviameV EIDREYAKI; 21 Setaita RAILUMU; 22 Sala KINITA; 23 Jeniffer RAVUTIA

Japan: 1 Aimi Mine; 2 Kotomi Taniguchi; 3 Kazuko Kitano; 4 Yuna Sato; 5 Yoshimura Otoka; 6 Sakurako Mukai; 7 Nagata Iroha; 8 Seina Saito; 9 Moe Tsukui; 10 Minoru Yamamoto; 11 Imakugi Komachi; 12 Mana Furuta; 13 Sakurako Hatada; 14 Nao Ando; 15 Nishimura Sora; 16 Court Lady Asuka; 17 Miyoko Machida; 18 Nijiho Nagata; 19 Masami Kawamura; 20 Ndoka Jenifah; 21 Megumi Abe; 22 Otsuka Shusa; 23 Hirotsu Yu