By Matt Westcott

S. Africa 17 Classic Lions 22

(Aet, scores tied 12-12

after 60 mins)

The Classic Lions clawed the World Rugby Classic trophy away from the reigning Springboks in a match that, although played in the relative backwater of Bermuda, would not have looked out of place at Twickenham, Murrayfield or Stadium Australia.

Locked at 12-apiece after 60 minutes of scintillating rugby, the Lions finally broke the South Africans' resolve in extra-time.

But up to that point it had really been anyone's game as possession swung back and forth, huge tackles prevented certain scores and players pummelled each other with all the intensity of their prime.

As they ended the match with a roar so the Lions began with one, believing they had scored the opening try within the first minute only to be pulled back for a forward pass.

But they did not have to wait much longer to celebrate, Harvey Thorneycroft, identified as a key man in the big match build-up, went over after a superb set-up that saw play switched from deep on the left to the far right.

Ashley Blair's kick was inch perfect and the Lions were 7-0 to the good.

The European side's other wide man, Derek Stark, missed a great chance to stretch the lead when he just failed to cling onto a pass from Nigel Heslop on the left.

That was to prove costly in the 26th minute when South African captain Heldegard Muller intercepted a pass deep in his own half and ran three quarters the length of the pitch before passing left to Andre Pawson, who fed the ball back to the golden-haired outhalf for the try. With Eric Herbert's conversion the scores were level at 7-7 at the break.

Just as they had at the start, the Lions came out for the second period firing on all cylinders and they went into the lead again after 34 minutes.

A kick forward was helped on its way by Stark who gave chase and then dived full-length to ground it. Derek McAleese's kick was short and the gap went up by five points.

There then followed a long period of Springbok pressure which took every ounce of Lions' mettle to repel.

Surge after surge was halted but just as they thought they had driven the 'enemy' back and the clock had been run down, in the final minute Muller found a gap and crossed over the try line. Herbert's kick was wayward, but the Springboks were back level.

Blair could have won it in regulation when the Lions were awarded a penalty, but his kick was only just in opposition territory and, against the wind, it failed to reach the target.

And so, unprecedented in Classic history, the final went to extra-time.

With just five minutes each way both sides knew the next score could prove crucial and for the third time in the match it was the Lions who showed first, Rowland Phillips going over after his side had been awarded a penalty scrum in the final third.

The kick was missed but the Lions had a crucial advantage.

And the pendulum had well and truly swung their way when Heslop charged down an errant kick and crossed the try line to put the Lions 10 points clear.

Though Tinus Linee grabbed a consolation at the death, it was too little, too late for the defending champions and, after two years in the wilderness, the pride was back with the Lions.

"I don't think you could hope for a better game than that," said delighted Lions' manager Allan Martin afterwards. "How do you get better than that? I just don't know. Magic stuff."

For Colin Deans the victory proved that every cloud has a silver lining.

Relieved of his coaching role with the Northampton Saints of England's Zurich Premiership last Monday, Deans at least could boast he had led his Lions to glory.

"It was just unbelievable," the Scottish hooker said. "We thought it would be backs against the wall the way they have played throughout the tournament. (But) at the end of the day our defence was good and for the first time we were able to throw the ball about and score tries."

Deans said coming out of the blocks fast had been part of the game plan.

"We know the South Africans hit teams in the first five or 10 minutes, so we never gave them a chance," he said, heaping praise on his men. "There are no prima donnas, they are all great guys, absolutely fantastic."

Try-scorer Stark said though he had played like a youngster his body was beginning to show the signs of the afternoon's exertions.

"I feel like a veteran at the moment," he said. "It was good stuff. You can see that these old warhorses are as desperate to win now as they ever were."

The Scottish wing said the Lions had come with only one outcome in mind.

"It was to win. It's all very well having a great social event but if you get beat in the final you may as well have been beat in the semi-final," he said. "To be honest, though, I never thought we had much of a chance given our drinking performances this week. But it's amazing what happens when everyone has got the will to win. Nobody wants to let anyone down."

Beaten captain Muller said the match had been a great advert for the game of rugby.

"I think it was a great rugby-football game in the tradition of the Classic," he said. "I am sure that the people in Bermuda have enjoyed it.

"It was a tough game and rugby-football was the winner at the end. Well done to the Lions."

Portugal/Spain 10 USA 7

The Iberians announced their intention to get in among the big boys with victory over the USA in the Plate Final.

Though the Americans were understrength and were forced to field several Canadians in their line-up it was still a significant victory for the European side.

Scoreless at the break, the game opened up in the second period and the Iberians were first on the board. Awarded a penalty in a central position they opted to kick and Ramon Blanco Duelo made no mistake to put his side 3-0 up.

But they were soon chasing the game when Bradley Hughes crossed the line after a period of American pressure. John Hinkin's successful conversion gave the USA a 10-3 lead.

It didn't last long though, Jon Azkagorta Aretxala scoring a try after the American's had been unable to clear their lines. Blanco Duelo's kick extended the lead and try as they might the USA could not dig deep enough to rally.

Spanish scrum-half Blanco Duelo said it had been a quite an achievement for the side who were marking only their second visit to Bermuda.

"It is very good news for us. Last year we came with a weaker team than this and we made it to the Plate final. So today is definitely an improvement, we won it. Next year we should be ready to go for the main tournament," he said.