A late penalty from Arrowtown first five-eighth Connor Bissett snuffed out a valiant Cromwell comeback in the second half to win an absorbing Central Otago premier club rugby final 24-21 at Anderson Park, in Cromwell on Saturday.
The Bulls' first title since 2009 was built on a vigorous defensive effort and capped off a significant season for the club, which celebrated its 30th jubilee earlier this year.
"It's been a huge effort. We've had some highs and lows," Arrowtown captain Malcolm Sutherland said.
"It's just awesome to come through and get the win and get the trophy."
It was a disappointing way to end the season for Cromwell, which had enjoyed a superior run to the final.
Cromwell coach Matt Brieley said he was proud of his side, which had enjoyed a great season.
"We gave ourselves a chance with 20 to go.
"We dropped a lot of ball, which was probably our downfall," he said.
The Goats managed to lift themselves off the canvas, aided by a rollicking home crowd.
Having found themselves 21-7 down early in the second half, they had tied things up at 21-all by the 74th minute.
Cromwell had come out firing on all cylinders from the kick off and left wing Jack Ryan crossed the line in the third minute.
Arrowtown replied three minutes later, as wing Ryan Egerton went over, against the run of play.
Play moved frantically end-to-end and both sides' kickers missed long-range penalty attempts.
It was tight and tense stuff amid the collisions and both sides' play-makers engaged in a kicking duel in the battle for territory.
Arrowtown took the lead in the 28th minute when Sutherland barged over, as the Bulls' forwards began to assert themselves.
The Bulls' captain spoke about negating the attacking threats of Cromwell last week and the smothering defensive pressure from the visitors frustrated Cromwell into some uncharacteristic mistakes.
Arrowtown went into the break up 14-7.
The Bulls delivered a hefty blow early in the second half, extending their lead when hooker Ben Carr scored following an unrelenting rolling maul.
This seemed to kick Cromwell into gear and it looked to the bench to provide some impetus.
A quick tap from Goats' halfback and captain Ben Maxwell sparked the revival, as fullback Warwick Cheney went over from the subsequent play.
Cromwell gained some parity at scrum time, having been dismantled by Arrowtown's pack a fortnight earlier, in their White Horse Cup encounter.
Arrowtown also emptied its bench and the likes of midfielder Izzy Nayaloga made an immediate impact.
However Cromwell had gone up a gear and rallied for one final push.
Tighthead prop Leile Aholelei sent Anderson Park into raptures when he shoved over close to the uprights and Maxwell's conversion tied it all up.
However, referee Jono Homer awarded a 76th-minute penalty against Cromwell at the breakdown, which Bisset coolly slotted from 38m out for the winning points.
An onslaught from Cromwell in the dying minutes came to nothing and the final whistle set off celebrations for the Bulls.