The Western Force put up a good fight in its opening Super 14s game against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday morning, but went down 17-10 after ultimately being overwhelmed by the powerful South Africans.
The performance of Force youngsters Nick Cummins and Luke Holmes will hearten Force fans after the drama that has filled the club over the past week. Cummins was superb on debut on the wing and Holmes scored his first try in just his fifth game.
Tries to Jacques Botes and Stefan Teblanche, as well as a penalty conversion to Francois Steyn, saw the Sharks home after a try to the Force's Matt Hodgson was called back in the dying seconds. The referee ruled the lineout not straight.
The Force's tumultuous week only got worse before kick-off with captain Nathan Sharpe a late withdrawal due to a stomach bug he had before leaving Australia. That left Tom Hockings to make his debut against some formidable opposition.
If Sharpe's virus was the worst news of the week the Force would be happy, but of course it wasn't.
It began last Sunday with a pub brawl between Matt Henjak and Haig Sare. Sare remained in Perth with a broken jaw, but Henjak still started against the Sharks although the saga should finish with the Force's tribunal hearing on Tuesday.
Sharks captain Johann Muller was delighted with the win to get revenge against the Force, who were just one of three teams to beat the side from Durban last season.
"It was really tough and the Force put us under a lot of pressure, but full credit to my guys. They stuck it out and we are so happy with the win," Muller said.
"They beat us last time in Perth, they are a fantastic side and will do really well in this competition, but I'm very proud of my guys for sticking it out."
First time Force captain Matt Giteau was bitterly disappointed in the performance despite the positives to come out of it.
"We have a few things to work on. Our handling wasn't up to scratch and we didn't play how we wanted to play, but full credit to the Sharks for outplaying us," Giteau said.
"The ball was slippery; they adapted to the conditions and held onto it better, as well as having a better kicking game. Those are things we need to work on ahead of the Cheetahs game next week."
The three-time Super Rugby runners-up were without Frenchman Frederic Michalak who was not able to overcome injury to make his Sharks' debut, but still had 13 players from last season's team that lost to the Bulls in the final.
The Force opened the scoring through a penalty conversion from Cameron Shepherd with 19 minutes gone in the first half. Several minutes later and the Sharks crossed for the first try of the game after a terrific maul from a lineout.
Botes was the scorer and Ruan Pienaar converted to put the home side up 7-3 and that's how it stayed going into half-time.
It took 12 minutes of the second half before the Sharks crossed again on a tremendous passage of play. Teblanche got on the end of it and made a great run for the line and split the Force defence. Pienaar again converted to put the Sharks up 14-3.
Scott Staniforth and Giteau then did superbly