Blues down the Bulls in Pretoria
Fly-half Otere Black kicked a medium-range, post-hooter penalty to earn the Auckland Blues a 23-21 victory over the Bulls in a scrappy Pretoria match.
Torrential rain before and during the clash cut up the Loftus Versfeld stadium pitch and contributed to a game that offered little entertainment.
The New Zealanders outscored the South Africans by three tries to two and the Blues' third was the best of a clash between clubs who have won the competition three times each.
Substitute back Matt Duffie soared to catch a high cross kick under pressure near the touchline and sent full-back Stephen Perofeta in to score.
That score gave the Blues a six-point second-half lead that was surrendered when Jeandre Rudolph barged over following a scrum and substitute fly-half Manie Libbok converted.
The Bulls defended their one-point advantage for seven minutes before Black snatched victory for the Blues.
Bulls lock Andries Ferreira and centre Burger Odendaal and Blues scrum-half Jonathan Ruru and number eight Hoskins Sotutu were yellow-carded in a niggly match.
Wing Mark Telea, loose forward Tom Robinson and Perofeta scored tries for the Blues and Black slotted a conversion and two penalties.
Fly-half Morne Steyn scored a try and kicked three penalties for the Bulls, whose other points came from the Rudolph try and Libbok conversion.
Victory lifted the Blues two places to seventh while the Bulls remain second last with only one point.