Pumitas run out of puff as Kiwis stroll on

NEW Zealand held Argentina scoreless in the second-half to earn their second win of the tournament, 32-9.

Argentina, who had outmuscled Australia in their first round victory, opened the scoring with Tomás Suárez Folch’s first penalty when New Zealand were pinged for collapsing a scrum.

An error from the kickoff however allowed Lucas Cashmore to swiftly level thescore and he doubled his tally with a second success from 25-metres after 26 minutes.

New Zealand openside Hayden Michaels was yellow carded for a lifting tackle in the 34th minute and Folch punished that indiscretion with a penalty and then nailed a 38-metre shot as Los Pumitas took a 9-6 lead a minute before the break.

But New Zealand hit back immediately as strong carries from hooker George Bell and lock Jamie Hannah led to wing Jake Te Hiwi wriggling over for a try. The conversion from Cashmore made it 13-9 at halftime.

The score didn’t change for 15 minutes in the second-half, but eventually Los Pumitas cracked when blindside Oliver Haig went sailing clear in the right corner. Centre Jona Rova had opened up Argentina with a left foot step on the opposite side.

A 30-metre charge by Peter Lakai paved the way for replacement scrum-half Joel Lam to touch down. Wing Macca Springer had the last say, palming aside a handful of defenders in a 25-metre surge.

New Zealand can seal a fifth Oceania U20 Championship title with victory in their final fixture against Australia today.

The Junior Wallabies thrashed Fiji 58-5 in their second game. Fly-half Jack Bowen, the son of 1990s Wallaby Scott, was the standout player. He scored a try, had a hand in three more, and kicked kicking 13 points.

Sharp-stepping Ben Dowling also had a day to remember with two tries and selection in Australia’s sevens team for the Commonwealth Games. David Vaihu and Jayden Blake all scored try doubles.