The Durban-based Sharks have held their nerve to beat the Stormers 24-14 and reclaim their place at the top of Super Rugby standings.
Replacement Paul de Wet’s try after a midfield burst by No.8 Juarno Augustus lifted the Stormers from 13-7 down to 14-13 up.
Sharks flyhalf Curwin Bosch kicked the home team ahead again – with a penalty landed from well over 50 metres – and winger Makazole Mapimpi sealed it a minute from the end by racing clear and into the left corner.
The Sharks lead the defending champion Crusaders by a point on the overall ladder.
Saturday’s game proceeded just hours before Super Rugby organisers decided to suspend the competition indefinitely after the weekend’s games because New Zealand players returning home from matches overseas faced being forced into self-isolation for two weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic.
SANZAAR, the body that runs Super Rugby, said the tournament would be off for the “foreseeable future” with only seven of 18 rounds of the regular season completed.
Saturday’s Jaguares’ clash with the Highlanders in Buenos Aires, which was to be played without spectators, was called off about five hours before kick-off.
The Dunedin-based Highlanders will not be able to return to New Zealand before the midnight Sunday deadline, meaning players, coaches and support staff will have to self-isolate for 14 days.
Super Rugby tweeted on Sunday that the Brumbies’ home derby against NSW Waratahs in Canberra would go ahead later in the day before the suspension of the competition begins.