The Highlanders were beaten 28-16 by the Sharks in Durban yesterday morning, in a match which never got out of first gear.
The Highlanders had most of the ball but seldom in the right areas, and made silly errors at the wrong time.
The Sharks possessed minimal offensive ability, and were happy to just back their defence.
The visiting side needed to convert its possession into points but turned over the ball nearly a dozen times - many of them at critical times - and was not ruthless enough when it mattered.
Sharks first five-eighth Patrick Lambie dominated the match, scoring all his side's points, and he did not miss a kick all night.
By comparison, Mike Delany missed a couple of handy penalties in the first half and could not get the Highlanders on a roll to secure a win.
The Highlanders' cause was not helped by four players forced from the field by injury, and the side played the final few minutes with 14 men.
The match was there for the taking for the men in green early in the second half, when replacement winger Kurt Baker went in after the Highlanders forwards had impressively driven the ball close to the line from a lineout 10m out.
With Delany's conversion, the Highlanders had a two-point lead - 16-14 - and another score then might have killed off the Sharks, who were impotent on attack.
But Lambie quickly knocked over another couple of penalties and then scored the try which sealed the win.
Impressive Sharks No 8 Keegan Daniel broke through the line and then put in a chip kick, which looked a poor option.
But it turned out to be the right move, as Hosea Gear dropped Daniel's kick and Lambie was on hand to kick the ball on and score under the posts.
With the conversion, his side was 12 points ahead and as the rain swept in it was game over for the Highlanders.
They got close to scoring in the final minutes but it went with form as they turned the ball over within sight of the line.
Playing the final 10 minutes short-handed did not help.
The Highlanders' set piece was untidy.
The scrum conceded a tighthead early on, and the lineout was inaccurate, especially near the end, when simpler options should have been preferred.
The less said about the first half the better.
Steve Walsh's whistle dominated as both sides were guilty of ill-discipline.
Too many players went off their feet at the breakdown and Walsh was getting sore shoulders raising his arms for infringements.
The constant whistle-blowing did nothing for the spectacle and it got little better in the second 40 minutes.
Best over the whole 80 minutes for the Highlanders was No 8 Nasi Manu and his flanking mate Adam Thomson, who ended up on the open side of the scrum.
Prop Chris King got through plenty of work while winger Siale Piutau showed his skills.
Lambie was the standout player for the home team and the du Plessis boys in the front row worked hard.
Super 15
The scores
Sharks 28
Patrick Lambie try; Lambie con, 7 pen
Highlanders 16
Kurt Baker try; Mike Delany con, 3 pen
Halftime: Sharks 15-9Patrick Lambie
