日本語　Photo　Journal
16 June 1996 at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
○Japan 24-18 United States●
First victory over the United States
　
The win-loss records of Japan against the United States were one draw and five losses. In this seventh game, Japan picked up the long-awaited first win with their forward-stepping tackling and quick attacks. They withered the U.S. with low tackling, and broke their defence with well-communicated quick tricks. Imaizumi scored a try in the 22nd minute of the first half to make it 8-6 at the break. Although the U.S. scored a come-from-behind try in the second half, Japan also did so: from a ruck, stand-off Hirose passed the ball to centre Motoki, who bursted through the opponent's defence in a vertical attack, and prop Nakamichi jumped in to the right of the goal. Hirose scored penalties effectively when they were most needed to win this close match.
　

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Data:
16/06/96, the 1st Pacific Rim Championship
Japan 24 U.S.A. 18
Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground, Tokyo
Half-time: 8-6
Referee: Paul Martin Haley (Hong Kong)
Touch Judges: 1st Naoki Saito (Japan), 2nd Shigeya Hatamoto (Kanto), 3rd Kiyomitsu Kominato (Kanto)
Crowd: 6,500
　
JAPAN: 15 Tsutomu Matsuda, 14 Hiroki Ozeki (16 Kiyoshi Imaizumi 7), 13 Andrew McCormick, 12 Yukio Motoki (capt), 11 Terunori Masuho, 10 Keiji Hirose, 9 Wataru Murata (18 Yoji Nagatomo 80), 8 Takeomi Ito, 7 Bruce Fergason, 6 Hiroyuki Kajihara, 5 David Bickle, 4 Kenji Sato, 3 Kazu Hamabe, 2 Masaaki Sakata, 1 Toshikazu Nakamichi.
Reserves: 17 Akira Yoshida, 19 Ko Izawa-Nakamura, 20 Shuji Simizu, 21 Kazuyuki Matsuno.
Tries: Imaizumi, Nakamichi; Conversion: Hirose; Penalty Goals: Hirose (4).
　
U.S.A.: 15 Maika Sika, 14 Vaea Anitoni, 13 Ray Green, 12 Mark Sharrenberg, 11 Tamasi Takau (20 Vili Sanft 16), 10 Matt Alexander, 9 Andre Bachelet, 8 Rob Lumkong, 7 Jason Walker, 6 Dan Lyle (capt), 5 Alec Parker, 4 Luke Gross, 3 Ray Lehner, 2 Sean Allen, 1 Tim Kuluempers.
Reserves: 16 Joe Rissone, 17 Tom Billups, 18 Rob Randell, 19 Kevin Dalzell, 21 Mark Williams.
Tries: Anitoni (2); Conversion: Bachelet; Penalty Goals: Bachelet, Alexander.
　
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 22min-try Japan, Imaizumi; conv. Hirose (missed)-5-0, 31min-pen U.S.A., Bachelet-5-3, 36min-pen U.S.A., Bachelet (missed), 38min-pen Japan, Hirose-8-3, 47min-pen U.S.A., Alexander-8-6, Half-time, 42min-try U.S.A., Anitoni; conv. Bachelet-8-13, 44min-try Japan, Nakamichi; conv. Hirose-15-13, 55min-pen Japan, Hirose-18-13, 62min-pen Japan, Hirose-21-13, 73min-try U.S.A., Anitoni; conv. Bachelet (missed)-21-18, 82min-pen Japan, Hirose-24-18.