History continues to be made at Broadacre, but this time for the wrong reasons. Japan flanker, Hiro Fumi Ouchi, who is in training to be a Buddhist monk, was sent off midway through the second half for dangerous use of the boot.
The player was distraught at the decision, which was enforced by touch judge Peter Foroka (Ystradgwnlais) who insisted to match official John Bacigalupo (Scotland) that dismissal was the only option.
The Tourist's management were unable to recall another of their players being sent off while wearing the national Japanese jersey. And so rare are sendings off in Japanese domestic competition that Tour doctor, Ichioi Kono said "It has only happened once or twice in the last five years".
The incident's victim, scrum half Nicky Lloyd, was kicked in the middle of a brawl between eight forwards. The Japanese claimed Ouchi was retaliating and Lloyd said "If I was a referee , I wouldn't have sent him off". However, there was no alternative after Mr. Foroka's intervention. To complete the historical link, this was Gabagalupo's first sending off in his official career.
Apart from that isolated incident there was little else for spectators to talk about as they drifted away last night. Dunvant came ever so close to claiming victory but a draw would have been a fair outcome to a scrappy, patternless game that lacked passion on both sides. The match was riddled with mistakes and mis-judgement. Dunvant could not raise their game, perhaps an indication of the toll their entry into the Heineken league first division has taken on their spirit and emotional reserves.
The first half ended at 10-6 to Japan. Fly half mark Thomas kicked two Dunvant penalties while Japanese full back Tatsuya maeda put one penalty over before adding a conversion to flanker Mitsuo Fujikake's try.
Thomas put Dunvant within a point of the visitors with another penalty four minutes into the second half. That encouraged an all too rare spurt of urgency among the Dunvant side which ended with lively scrum half Lloyd setting up a try for flanker Paul morris. That gave Dunvant a 16-10 lead. But the score only served to galvanise Japan, who engineered a delightful try for Ouchi and the same player created a superb score for wing Tatasuku Fujihara, both converted by Maeda.
But then came Ouchi's marvellous moment glamorous moment. And off he went. The last word fell to his victim, Lloyd, whose superb solo effort was scored from 35 metres out. Thomas converted but Dunvant was still a point short and there was all round relief when matters were brought to an end.

Scorers:
DUNVANT: Tries by P.Morris, N.Lloyd, Conversions M.Thomas(2), Pens: M.Thomas(3)
JAPAN:Tries by M.Fujikake, H.Ouchi, P.Fujihara. Conversions T.Maeda (3) Pen: Maeda

Teams:
DUNVANT
15 Dean Evans, 14 Carwyn Young, 13 Nigel Bolton, 12 Warren Lloyd, 11 Paul Farnworth, 10 Mark Thomas, 9 Nicky Lloyd
1 Mark Waygood, 2 David Morris, 3 Richard Llewellyn, 4 Danzi Niblo,
5 David Crane (Capt.) 6 Chris Davies, 7 Paul Morris, 8 Colin Butler
16 Mark Bernard,17 Wayne Phillips, 18 Nic Davies,19 Chris Hutchings,
20 Richard Greenwood, Paul Hopkins

JAPAN
15 T.Maeda, 14 T.Fujihara, 13 M.Fujikake, 12 T.Faamasino, 11 Y.Yoshida,
10 S.Aoki (Capt), 9 R.Onitsuka
1 K.Kimura, 2 E.Hirotsu, 3 M.Nakamura, 4 Y.Sakuraba, 5 B.Ferguson
6 S.Kaleta, 7 H.Ouchi, 8 S.Ono
16 K.Matsuo, 17 Williams, 18 T.Matsuda, 19 M.Kunda, 20 O.Ota, 21 S.Latu