New Zealand's hold on the IRB Junior World Championship has come to an end as they were beaten 22-16 by South Africa in the final this morning.



In front of a huge crowd of 40,000 at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa scored two tries to New Zealand's one and deserved to end the visitor's grip on this title which had stretched back to 2008.



Handre Pollard and Ihaia West kicked a penalty for each side inside the first 13 minutes, but South Africa went three points ahead when Pollard's second penalty kick went over as the home side gained ascendancy at the breakdown and also with the set pieces.



But New Zealand worked their way into the game as the half went on and when they attacked from an ordinary South African kick Auckland's Milford Keresoma raced 20 metres to score the final's opening try.



The half ended with Pollard kicking his third penalty, taking the score to 10-9 to the All Blacks at the break.



Five minutes into the second half New Zealand had a scrum on the South African 5m line, but instead of this being a great launching pad for an attack, the Baby Boks destroyed the New Zealand scrum earning a penalty as they drove them backwards.



It fired up South Africa no end and they were still on a high a couple of minutes later when halfback Vian Van Der Watt kicked through a loose ball over the try line and then grounded it for the points.



West's second penalty in the 57th minute made it a one point game.



A minute later referee Greg Garner from England went over the top by red carding South Africa's Paul Willemse and Ofa Tu'ungafasi for having a scrap.



Willemse was sent off for pulling hair and Tu'ungafasi for reacting to this by punching his opponent in the face.



On the hour mark Pollard landed a huge drop goal to extend South Africa's lead again and when Jen Serfontein got through some poor New Zealand defending to get his side's second try the outcome of the final looked inevitable.



West kicked another penalty to make it a 22-16 game with five minutes to go but New Zealand weren't able to get close to scoring a match winning try.



South Africa 22 (Vian Van Der Watt, Jen Serfontein tries; Handre Pollard 3 pens, drop goal) bt New Zealand 16 (Milford Keresoma try; Ihaia West 3 pens, con)