Springbok wing Bryan Habana scored a try two minutes into injury-time to lead the Northern Bulls to a thrilling win over the Coastal Sharks for their first Super 14 title.
Bulls flyhalf Derick Hougaard added the conversion from next to the uprights to spoil the party for the 54,000 home fans who turned out to witness the first all-South African Super 14 final.
The Bulls triumphed 20-19 after trailing 10-14 at the break.
The Sharks were on the board after nine minutes with a Percy Montgomery penalty, but four minutes later the Bulls went into the lead with a converted try by No. 8 Pierre Spies.
The Bulls loose forward sliced between Sharks defenders AJ Venter and Waylon Murray to score under the posts after his captain Victor Matfield had opted to kick into touch to set up the lineout instead of going for goal after winning a penalty inside the home team's half.
But the Sharks hit back almost immediately through winger JP Pietersen who intercepted a pass from Spies on the halfway line to run all of 50 metres to score his 12th try of the season.
Montgomery missed the conversion, but put his side back into the lead on the half-hour with his first penalty of the afternoon.
Bulls No. 10 Hougaard edged his side closer with a three-pointer a few minutes later, but the home side finished the half the stronger outfit with a further three points from Montgomery.
Changing sides 14-10 up, the Sharks battled to find the rhythm that saw them dominate the first half, and it was no surprise when the Bulls won a penalty inside the home side's 22 metre area on 60 minutes and Hougaard knocked the ball over to close the gap to just a point.
The visitors continued to pile on the pressure, but excellent tackling by the home side kept the men from Pretoria out and then with two minutes to go on the clock, replacement lock forward Albert van den Berg found a way through the Bulls defence for his team's second try. Francois Steyn missed the conversion.
Then with the last move of the game, Habana went over next to the uprights after beating two defenders and the conversion by Hougaard sealed a one-point win for the visitors.
Sharks:
Percy Montgomery; Frans Steyn, Waylon Murray, Brad Barritt, JP Pietersen; Butch James, Ruan Pienaar; Ryan Kankowski, AJ Venter, Jacques Botes; Johann Muller, Johan Ackermann; BJ Botha, John Smit (capt), Deon Carstens
Replacements used: Bismarck du Plessis, Beast Mtawarira, Albert van den Berg, Warren Britz, Bob Skinstad, Adrian Jacobs
Replacement not used: Rory Kockott
Bulls:
Johan Roets; Akona Ndungane, JP Nel, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana; Derick Hougaard, Fourie du Preez; Pierre Spies, Wikus van Heerden, Pedrie Wannenburg; Victor Matfield (capt), Bakkies Botha; Rayno Gerber, Gary Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp
Replacements used: Jaco Engels, Danie Thiart, Danie Rossouw, Derick Kuun, Heini Adams, Morne Steyn, Jaco van der Westhuyzen
Referee: Steve Walsh (NZL)
