Rugby: Sharks edge Brumbies in thriller

Henry Speight of the Brumbies is tackled by Marcell Coetzee of the Sharks during the round six Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Sharks. Photo / Getty Images.

The Sharks warded off a desperate last-gasp attack from the Brumbies in a nailbiting Super Rugby clash at Canberra Stadium to wind up 29-26 victors tonight.

In an arm wrestle of a game, the visitors looked to have the match wrapped up at 29-19 with 10 minutes to go before the Brumbies scored in the dying minute through Nic White.

Then, after the siren having sounded, the home side played on for another five minutes and gained 50m in the hope of adding more points before finally turning the ball over.

The three-point victory was a significant one for the Sharks - their first away win this season and their first at Canberra Stadium since 1998.

For the Brumbies, it was also noteworthy, but only in that it was their first defeat at home this season after four games.

The Brumbies had taken a 16-15 lead at halftime, but the Sharks set themselves up for victory early in the second half by piling on two tries through Willem Alberts and Lwazi Mvovo.

In the end, it was enough to secure them victory in a game where the lead changed seven times.

The game was tight from the outset, but the Sharks were the first to draw blood when fullback Riaan Viljoen scored controversially on the wing in the 22nd minute after appearing to knock the ball on.

But the Brumbies were quick to wrestle back the lead - and they did it in style.

Jesse Mogg pulled off the try of the night after leaping onto a teammate's pass a good 50m out and then delivering a kick-and-chase that bounced perfectly over Odwa Ngundane's head and back into Mogg's hands just before the line.

Viljoen crossed again in the 35m minute to give the Sharks another lead, before the Brumbies stole it back before the break courtesy of a Christian Lealiifano penalty.

The Brumbies finished the night with more injury concerns, with Matt Toomua re-injuring his knee and Henry Speight also limping from the field.

-AAP