The New South Wales Waratahs have dealt a serious blow to the ACT Brumbies' finals hopes after a gritty 19-12 Super 14 victory at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
In a dour struggle, the Waratahs scored the lone try through winger Lachie Turner to secure the vital four competition points in front of 40,271 supporters.
With three rounds remaining, the Brumbies are now struggling back in equal-sixth place on 27 points, seven behind the Bulls who make up the top four.
The win has kept the Waratahs' finals hopes alive, moving them up to 33 points, just a point behind the Bulls.
But the pressure is right back on the Brumbies with upcoming games against the Reds and Highlanders in Canberra, before a final-round clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch, all looming as must-win matches.
"It was do or die before tonight, we just can't lose another game," Brumbies skipper Stephen Hoiles said at full-time.
"It was a grind, but a really disappointing result for us. I was proud of the performance, it was a typical boring interstate game. We just couldn't get over the line."
Waratahs skipper Phil Waugh said the next three rounds are equally important for his team.
NSW will be based in New Zealand for the next fortnight, against the Highlanders in Invercargill on Friday night, before shifting to Hamilton to take on the Chiefs on May 8.
The Waratahs will complete their regular season against the Hurricanes in Sydney on May 14.
"It was an important win for us," Waugh said.
"We've got two weeks in New Zealand now, so it doesn't get any easier for us."
The Waratahs opened the scoring in the third minute through a Daniel Halangahu penalty goal.
Both teams struggled for any continuity in the proceeding 10 minutes as the rain started to fall.
Halangahu then potted a long-range penalty goal in the 17th minute after referee Steve Walsh found a mysterious penalty against the Brumbies.
The flyhalf made it three from three eight minutes later to give the Waratahs a handy 9-0 lead.
The Brumbies opened their account two minutes on when Matt Giteau nailed a penalty goal to bridge the deficit to six.
The Brumbies were then robbed a try in the 29th minute when officials incorrectly called against Adam Ashley-Cooper who powered over out wide to score what appeared to be the opening five-pointer of the night.
But Walsh ruled a double-movement against the winger, a decision that infuriated Hoiles.
Replays clearly backed up the visitors, but the decision was final.
"We thought it was a try," Hoiles said.
The Brumbies got a little back in the 31st minute when Giteau again kicked a simple penalty goal to make it 9-6.
By this stage, it was clear the Brumbies were slowly getting on top of the Waratahs, with a third Giteau penalty goal after the siren locking scores up at 9-9 at half-time.
The Brumbies lost fullback Julian Huxley at the break with a hamstring injury with Ashley-Cooper dropping back to fullback, giving Alfie Mafi a chance on the wing.
Giteau had an opportunity to give the Brumbies the lead in the 43rd minute, but his penalty goal was waved away.
Three minutes later, Halangahu broke the deadlock when he calmly booted a 40m penalty goal to inch the Waratahs ahead 12-9.
Waratahs fullback Kurtley Beale had a sniff of a chance in the 48th minute when a Berrick Barnes flick pass put