The Classic Lions became only the fourth team to win the World Rugby Classic with a victory over the giant-killing Argentinians in Saturday afternoon's final.

Argentina, who knocked off perennial Classic titlists, the All Blacks, with a 17-15 win in the semi-finals were unable to counter the huge kicks of fly half Derek McAleese which kept them pinned in their own half.

The Lions were able to turn the pressure into points early on with Noel Mannion and Ian Corcoran scoring early on. Both tries were converted by McAleese.

The Pumas, meanwhile, countered by running the ball and were rewarded with a try from Jorge Avena just before the break.

After the interval the England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales combination side turned on the pressure again. Hooker Nigel Week scored an unconverted try which the Argentinians immediately answered with a score from their prop Serafin Dengra. Then it was all Lions with Ken McLeish scoring a pair of tries and David Lyons adding a third. McAleese added a third conversion shortly before the final whistle. Lions skipper Jonathan Griffiths thanked the Argentinians for a great game and "for beating New Zealand in the semi-finals''.

He added: "This was a great achievement for us. We always come over here and do reasonably well but we never expected to win.'' USA 12 Bermuda 7 Bermuda lost their second chance to glean some silverware from the Classic competition in a hard-fought Plate final.

The local boys lost 29-5 to Argentina last year and were unlucky not to reverse their fortunes in this match against Team America.

The sides were deadlocked through the majority of the first half with the Americans -- who had the wind at their backs -- using high kicks to test Bermuda's defence and maintain pressure.

The tactic paid off when Gary Williams scored for the Americans after the Bermuda fullback bobbled a catch.

After the interval the Americans continued to apply pressure and were rewarded when captain Frank Kennedy scored from the back of a short line out near the Bermuda goal line. Williams converted this score.

Bermuda did not give up and took control of the game. Mounting pressure applied on the American defence resulted in a series of penalties and scrums on the USA goal line that culminated with Bermuda centre Dicky Holland crossing over for the try.

He converted his score just before the final whistle was blown.

Afterward Kennedy said: "Bermuda gave a great showing of themselves. I am very pleased with my team's effort. After losing the first game to the All Blacks it was good to win the other two.'' Meanwhile Bermuda skipper Alvin Harvey could not hide his disappointment.

"It was a great effort by our team but in the end we made a few too many mistakes. We thought we had the game in the bag and we held them well but then we had a little lapse which they took advantage of.'' South Africa 35 New Zealand 25 South Africa and New Zealand delighted rugby fans with a free-flowing scoring spectacular during the first game of the afternoon.

The two teams combined to score 12 tries with the Springboks running out eventual winners by ten points.

The win meant South Africa seized third place in the tournament with last year's winners -- and seven time Classic champions -- the All Blacks falling to fourth place.

Buck Anderson, John Boe, Bruce Middleton, Robbie Deans and Jock Ross scored for the Kiwis while Charles Kleinbool, Anwar Majiet, Trevor Adams, Deon Oosthuizen, Stephen Barwise, Ivan Jacobs and Helgard Muller crossing the line for the Springboks.

A delighted South African captain Jannie Breedt said: "We looked a lot better today with our passes finding one another. All in all the game was played in a good spirit.'' Noted Kiwi skipper Andy Haden: "We lacked a bit of organisation today. I think we left our best stuff on the training field.'' AMERICAN GRANDSTAND - A US player tries to elude a host of Bermuda tacklers during Saturday's Plate final at the World Rugby Classic. The Americans beat Bermuda 12-7.