A late try to stand-in hooker John Ulugia secured the NSW Waratahs a vital Super Rugby win over the Western Force in Saturday night's derby in Sydney.
Filling in for Wallabies star Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ulugia wriggled over in the 70th minute to earn NSW a 20-15 triumph and a placeback in the top six.
The Highlanders' 20-7 loss to the Chiefs earlier on Saturday in New Zealand allowed the Waratahs to edge back into the finals zone on points differential.
Five penalty goals from Force centre James O'Connor had given the tourists a 15-13 advantage as the clock wound down at the SFS, but Ulugia - touted mid-week as a potential Waratahs weak link - saved NSW blushes and possibly their 2011 season.
The victory was just the tonic for the Waratahs, who enjoy the bye next weekend and a guaranteed four competition points before hosting the last-placed Lions the following round.
In a tight first half dominated by strong defence and big hits, O'Connor nailed three penalties to Kurtley Beale's two to leave the Force 9-6 up at the break.
NSW hit the front for the first time in the 44th minute with a fortuitous try to centre Ryan Cross.
A Beale penalty attempt ricocheted off the left upright and straight into the arms of Cross, who strolled over.
Beale converted for a 13-9 advantage before O'Connor nudged the Force back ahead with his fourth and fifth penalty goals.
Ulugia, though, had the final say with the Waratahs turning down the opportunity to slot a last-minute penalty goal to further boost their for-and-against record.
"It was certainly tough,"Waratahs captain Dean Mumm said.
"They made us work for every scrap of possession.
"Every win is important. That's two in a row now and we just need to keep winning."
NSW WARATAHS 20 (Ryan Cross, John Ulugia tries Kurtley Beale 2 cons 2 pens) bt WESTERN FORCE 15 (James O'Connor 5 pens) at Sydney Football Stadium. Referee: Stuart Dickinson. Crowd: 17,532.
