Japan beat Kenya U20 48-34 to reach World Junior trophy final on Wednesday in Brazil.
Next up for the Brave Blossoms is a rematch of the 2017 Final as they meet Portugal on Saturday with a winner earning promotion to the Championship. Kenya finish third in their pool and will play Canada in the 5th-place play-off.
Kenya finished third in pool A with five points three ahead of Brazil. Japan won the pool with 15 points as Uruguay settled for second with 11.
Other matches played on the last day of pool fixtures saw Uruguay beat Brazil 52-10, Portugal see off Tonga 3-40 and Canada dismiss Hong Kong 26-78.
Portugal topped pool B with 15 points, five ahead of Tonga and eight above third placed Canada. Hong Kong trailed in pool B with only one point.
SCORING
JAPAN 48
Tries – H. Vailea 3 (2?, 30?, 40?), S. Tsujimura (18?), T. Kusaka (20?), Penalty try (64?), T. Oka (69?), F. Yamaguchi (77?)
Cons – T. Aoki 3/5 (3?, 21?, 40?), R. Kawase 0/1, R. Fukuyama 0/1
Yellow cards – T. Oka (71?)
KENYA 34
Tries – H. Ayoo (22?), T. Okwemba (33?), I. Masheti (49?), G. Okwach 2 (59?, 66?)
Cons – D. Coulson 3/5 (34?, 50?, 60?)
Pens – D. Coulson 1/2 (4?)
Yellow cards – S. Asati (73?
World Junior Trophy 2019 Standings after Matchday 3
Pool A:
1.Japan 15
2.Uruguay 11
3. Kenya 45
4.Brazil 2
Pool B:
1.Portugal 15
2.Tonga 10
3.Canada 7
4.Hong Kong 1
FIXTURES
Matchday 4
Sunday, July 21, 2019
5th Place Play-Off: Kenya vs Canada 6pm
3rd Place Play-Off: Uruguay vs Tonga 8pm
7th Place Play-Off: Brazil vs Hong Kong 11pm
Cup Final: Japan vs Portigal 1am
RESULTS
Matchday 1
Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Tonga 26 Canada 25
Japan 56 Brazil 24
Kenya 11 Uruguay 63
Portugal 59 Hong Kong 27
Matchday 2
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Kenya 26 Brazil 24
Portugal 49 Canada 21
Japan 46 Uruguay 31
Tonga 64 Hong Kong 12
Matchday 3
Hong Kong 26 Canada 78
Tonga 3 Portugal 40
Japan 48 Kenya 34
Uruguay 52 Brazil 10