Pumas improve but Boks get win, bonus Rugby Championship

The scores

BEN McCarthy — remember the name.

The winger wrote his name into North Otago rugby’s history books after scoring 29 points in the devastating 8923 win over HorowhenuaKapiti on Saturday.

McCarthy’s individual effort surpassed previous joint record holders Chris Finch (1998) and Simon Porter (2000), who was at the game celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Old Golds team that won the NPC third division in 2002.

McCarthy was unstoppable, scoring a try from a nolook pass by No 8 Junior Fakatoufifita, and converting 12 out of 13 tries — also a record for the province, breaking Ben Patston’s mark of nine conversions against East Coast in 2010.

McCarthy even landed a clutch conversion on the buzzer as a streaker — featuring in a video that has gone viral from the televised game — ran in front of him.

He also intercepted a pass when Horowhenua looked to score, leading Tini Feke to score for the home side, and set up Levi Emery’s and Paea Fifita’s tries.

But it was not all about McCarthy.

Every player stepped up to cement North Otago’s highest score at home, and its secondhighest Heartland win, after its 1163 defeat of Ngati Porou East Coast in 2010.

The win also pushed the Old Golds, who had lost their past two games, from seventh to fourth on the standings.

Early on, though, they looked to be in trouble.

Horowhenua punished North Otago for its lack of urgency at the breakdown, and halfback Jack TatuRobinson slotted two early penalties.

But when Inoke Fisilau ran on to a lovely chip kick from managerturnedplayer Lemi Masoe to score, North Otago found its rhythm.

Agile prop Kelepi Funaki bustled over, Seta Koroitamana dazzled with his footwork, lock Epineri Logavatu pushed over from the back of a maul, and McCarthy scored to build a 339 lead.

Horowhenua flanker Aaron Lahmert scored in the corner to make it 3316 at the break.

North Otago showed no signs of slowing down when Fisilau went over for his second in the 41st minute, followed by centre Matt Vocea three minutes later.

Then came a stroke of brilliance.

Determined to run the ball out of North Otago’s goal line, McCarthy took off, and put in a grubber which sat up for him. Feke then shifted it to Emery, who sprinted 60m to score.

Feke scored his double, and Paea Fifita crossed to make it 7516.

Horowhenua winger Trevor Owens then scored his side’s only points of the second half.

North Otago ran in another 80m try with winger Mone Samate finishing it off.

Fakatoufifita scored the final try. The big No 8 had a massive game for the Old Golds, as did Funaki, Feke and, obviously, McCarthy.

From broken play, the Old Golds were absolutely lethal, showing their attacking brilliance and, with the numbers in support, finishing it off every time.

It was a big turnaround from a disappointing loss to Mid Canterbury the week before, and is a big result for North Otago’s season.

Springboks .................................... 36 Malcolm Marx 2, Jaden Hendrikse, Damian de Allende tries, penalty try; Damian Willemse con, pen, Francois Steyn 2 con

Pumas ........................................... 20 Matias Moroni try, penalty try; Emiliano Boffelli con, 2 pen

Halftime: Springboks 226.

BUENOS AIRES: South Africa hooker Malcolm Marx scored a try in the final minute to secure a 3620 bonuspoint victory over Argentina at Estadio Libertadores de America in Buenos Aires yesterday and keep the Springboks in the Rugby Championship title hunt.

The win lifts the Springboks to 14 points in the table, level with New Zealand. They host Argentina in their final clash in Durban next weekend, while the All Blacks are at home to Australia.

The visitors' scores came via a penalty try, one each for halfback Jaden Hendrikse and centre Damian de Allende, and two for Marx.

South Africa dominated the first half with their powergame and led 226 at the break, but they were given a scare in the second period, when Argentina roared back in the final 15 minutes and took the score to 2220 before the Boks pulled away once more.

The home side were also awarded a penalty try, to go with a score for centre Matias Moroni.

``To come here is very hard. Argentines are very passionate people and they take pride in their rugby. For us to get a bonus point was special,'' Bok captain Siya Kolisi said at the postmatch presentation.

``Argentina played really well, it was a great battle. It has been tough for us and we had to pull together as a group.''

It was a classic example of a game of two halves, and South Africa should really have been further ahead on the scoreboard at the break.

Every time it used its muscular forwards they made yards and forced Argentina into conceding penalties, but when it ran the ball along the backline, it made unforced errors that released the pressure.

The Boks were awarded a penalty try midway through the half when Argentine first five Santiago Carreras failed to get back onside having made a tackle on Canan Moodie and prevented Hendrikse from dotting down in the corner.

The halfback did cross for a score when he spotted a massive gap in the home defence following more incessant pressure, and Marx then got his first from a trademark driving maul as the Boks simply had too much power for their hosts.

Argentina came out for the second half with more fire in its belly and although it took it 25 minutes to put points on the board, it had the Boks scrambling in defence and was for a while the dominant team.

It was awarded a penalty try for an illegal tackle by Kwagga Smith, who received a yellow card and joined Willie le Roux in the sinbin as the Boks went down to 13 players.

When Moroni crossed to score two minutes later, all the momentum was with Argentina as it moved to within two points.

But in the last 10 minutes the Boks found their composure as well as further scores by De Allende and a second for Marx that earned the bonus point, sealed the win and keeps the pressure on New Zealand in the competition.

``The first half we weren’t where we wanted to be in terms of defence and discipline,'' Argentina captain Julian Montoya said.

``In the second half our attitude was much better and we kept going. But it wasn’t enough.

``We have to learn from this, you have to play for 80 minutes if you want to win against the world champions.'' — Reuters