Pirates could not quite win the Jack Hore Trophy for the first time since 2002, but a draw with Southern at Hancock Park was enough to lock away the Challenge Shield for the summer.
The end result was perhaps a fair reflection on the erratic but, at times, brilliant display put on by both sides.
Glenn Dickson scored 24 points, including two tries, and was masterful when directing play from first five-eighth.
His touch-finders and high-ball options inspired the forward pack, with flanker Josh Clark and lock Steve Mison quick to capitalise on Southern mistakes.
Prop Daniel Johnson, playing his 150th game for Pirates, was also a standout at the breakdown and helped to provide an edge over Southern in the scrums.
Halfback Steve Bruce proved a handful around the fringes and his quick thinking led to two of Pirates' four tries.
Southern halfback Lewis Hancock was also lively and provided Southern with an ideal platform on with to launch its attacks.
The Southern loose forward trio kept pressuring the Pirates backline into mistakes, while lock James Stevenson and frontrowers Ean Griffiths and Warren Moffat stood out in the tight.
Griffiths snatched a crucial tighthead with Pirates hot on attack with time almost up.
Southern 34 (Luke Herden 2, Lewis Hancock, Greg Zampach, Carl Anderson tries; Hancock pen, 3 con), Pirates 34 (Glenn Dickson 2, Josh Clark, Steve Mison tries; Dickson 2 pen, 4 con).
Halftime: Southern 22-21.
Referee: Todd Pullar.
