Peter Grant kicked a 77th-minute penalty to finally separate South Africa’s Super Rugby north-south rivals as the Stormers edged the Bulls 20-17 on Saturday.

Grant’s late shot, his only kick of the game, finally held off a second-half surge from the Bulls, who came back from 14-0 down at the break to tie it at 17-17 in a bone-crunching derby at Newlands.

Stormers hooker Tiaan Liebenberg’s try and the boot of fullback Joe Pietersen put the home team in control before tries by winger Bjorn Basson and centre Wynand Olivier brought the three-time champion Bulls level.

The Stormers remain the only unbeaten team in the Super Rugby championship and stay top of the South African conference and the overall tournament standings after six rounds.