New Zealand defeated hosts South Africa in dramatic fashion with the final play of the match to win the Nelson Mandela Bay South Africa Sevens, round three of the HSBC Sevens World Series.

The reigning Series champions won a thrilling final 31-26 in front of 30,000 fans to claim the first South Africa Sevens title to be played at a new home in Port Elizabeth.

In doing so, they draw level with Fiji on 51 points at the top of the World Series with South Africa in third on 48 and England just one more point adrift in fourth.

Samoa finished third in the tournament after beating England 17-14 in the bronze final. Wales won the Plate with a comprehensive 48-0 defeat of Fiji, Scotland lifted the Bowl and Zimbabwe beat Kenya to the Shield.

South Africa were up 26-17 with time winding down. But some clever interplay by New Zealand brought them to within two, and then a couple of key errors by the hosts opened the door for New Zealand to clinch it with a kick ahead.

Twice New Zealand led in the first half through captain DJ Forbes and half back Tomasi Cama, and twice the Boks hit back through Bernardo Botha, but Frank Halai's long-range run-in nudged the reigning Series champions into a 17-14 half time lead.

After the break the hosts built a lead with tries from Steven Hunt and Cecil Afrika, but Halai again answered for the kiwis to cut the deficit to two points and with the final play of the match New Zealand kicked a loose ball upfield to create a match-winning score for Tomasi Cama.

It was Cama's 100th try in IRB World Series play.

Samoa finished third in the tournament after beating England 17-14 in the bronze final. Wales won the Plate with a comprehensive 48-0 defeat of Fiji, Scotland lifted the Bowl and Zimbabwe beat Kenya to the Shield.