TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo Sungoliath fell agonizingly short of their first victory of the Japan Rugby League One season Sunday after Mikiya Takamoto missed an 80th-minute conversion to leave head coach Kosei Ono's men deadlocked 26-26 with Kubota Spears.

Flyhalf Takamoto scored the opening try at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground and had slotted all three of his previous conversions before hitting the post on a difficult attempt from near the sideline in the wake of replacement hooker Kienori Go's five-pointer.

Coming into the clash with two losses and a draw, Sungoliath were looking to kickstart their campaign in Japan center Ryoto Nakamura's 100th appearance for the club.

Takamoto flitted across in the 15th minute after winger Seiya Ozaki was brought down just short of the try line. Sungoliath extended to a 14-0 lead with a converted try from South African superstar Cheslin Kolbe, who pounced on a loose ball and sprinted home in the 25th minute.

The Spears quickly hit back through winger Halatoa Vailea, who went over in the corner off a long cut-out pass from flyhalf Bernard Foley. Head coach Frans Ludeke's side added converted tries from Haruto Kida and David Van Zeeland to take a 21-14 lead into the break.

Takamoto tied the game by converting Isaiah Punivai's 54th-minute five-pointer, but Kubota quickly went back up 26-21 when 35-year-old former Wallaby Foley turned back the clock as he scythed through the defense on a kick return.

With Kida sent to the sin bin in the 73rd minute, Sungoliath made the most of their man advantage when they mauled across from a lineout near the opposing 22. The comeback attempt came up short when Takamoto's kick grazed the upright and stayed out.

"I was aiming to kick it just as I'd practiced, and I thought it was going in, but it unfortunately hit the post," Takamoto said. "We started the game really well, but our mistakes led to us giving way points. That's the challenge for us."

In Sunday's other first-division matches, Saitama Wild Knights overpowered Mie Heat 48-24 to stay perfect after four matches and Sagamihara Dynaboars were 34-26 winners over Kobe Steelers.