It was a tough ask to expect the Sharks to win at Canberra after failing to do so for 12 years but they dug deep and  got so close that they must feel skinned and quartered at having lost once again by the narrowest of margins. 22-24 tells the story of two sides that were fairly evenly matched and had it not been for a few dodgy calls by the ref the story would have ended so much sweeter for the KwaZulu-Natalians.

The penalty which underlined the ludicrousness of the officials was when Kanko was adjudged to be offside at the lineout. It was an extremely tight call and the slo mo confirmed that Kanko was still onside when he went for the interception. However that was not the only freakish call and John Smit was even caught up asking the ref if “…that call had come from Paul Marks?”

I might be scraping the bottom of my barrel of optimism but there are signs that the Sharks will soon win a game. No single team has yet dominated them, the scores have been close and for the first time they played like a unit. Andy Goode, who I haven’t yet taken too really put on a great display and finished with a 100% record and managed not to get sent off. Swanepoel at centre surprised by holding onto the ball and making a few yards in the process,  and even the much slandered scrum held its own with John Smit, Beast and at the end Jannie DP working hard.

However you can't really blame the refs because week in and week out as previously the Sharks only too often are able to string 15 phases together through grit and determination and then see it  peter out into a soft turnover and the momentum was lost. 5 loses out of 5 and the dark clouds are gathering for Coach Plumtree and one feels a little miracle by him is the only thing that can help him to keep his job.

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