New Zealand advanced to the 2017 Bermuda World Rugby Classic Final with a 24 – 12 win over Italy.
New Zealand went ahead 5 – 0 when Billy Fulton, Filimoni Botitu would double the New Zealand lead when he went over for a Try and when Willie Walker kicked the Conversion the score moved to 12 – 0 in favor of New Zealand.
Sherwin Stowers would get in on the act scoring a New Zealand Try in the second half making it 17 – 0 and when Walker kicked the Conversion it extended the score to 19 – 0, Italy would finally get on the board when Michael Denbee went over for a Try, which was followed by a Conversion off the foot of Ramiro Pez making it 19 – 7.
Walker would restore the New Zealand 19 point lead when he went over in the corner, but in a mad scramble near the end Italy would get a Try, but the Conversion was missed leaving the score at 24 – 12.
CLASSIC PLATE SEMI-FINAL
USA 21 South Africa 24 – IN SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME This match went into sudden death overtime with Monty Dumond kicking the all-important Penalty Kick to earn South Africa a spot in the Plate Final.
With USA leading 21 – 14 in the final minutes of match, a USA player thinking time was up kicked the ball into touch, but the referee allowed play to continue deep in the USA 22 and following a drive from South Africa the referee ruled a Penalty Try and Conversion leveling the score.
Both teams had chances to win the game, but it was Dumond who would step up and kick the Penalty from just outside the USA 22.
During the game the USA would get 2 Try’s from Todd Clever, and a single Try from Ed Pitts, with Reinhard Gerber kicking 3 Conversions.
Andrew Suniula, Maximo de Achaval and the Penalty Try would account for the South Africa’s points with Achaval kicking 2 Conversions.
