Classy and consistent pressure play from the Sharks extended their winning record against the Blues when taking a 35-31 at Eden Park in their Super 14 game on Saturday.
Poor support play, which left ball carriers isolated and ball untended at the base of rucks and mauls, cost the Blues dearly. Several times Sharks players were able to reach around and claim ball from the Blues and most frustrating of all it was often in good attacking situations.
At one stage early in the second half the Sharks crept out to a 30-16 lead, but the Blues fought back with a try to first five-eighths Jimmy Gopperth in the 64th minute. Moments later it looked to score again, but in a cruel twist of fate, the ball was cleared by the Sharks.
The Blues made a valiant effort to get back to cover and while the ball was held up, it was replacement hooker John Smit who drove under the defenders, and over for the try which killed the home team's hopes of a comeback.
There was compensation for a loser's bonus point when wing Joe Rokocoko scored in the last action of the game.
The Blues had an unfortunate start when right wing Paul Williams pulled a quad muscle during the warm-up and his place was taken by Winston Stanley.
The Sharks had good reward for a quick throw-in deep in their own 22m area. While the Blues gained the ball from a kick ahead, the ball was turned over and wing Odwa Ndungane swooped onto loose ball around a ruck. He ran into space and linked with centre Adrian Jacobs.
He then switched with wing JP Pietersen whose angle left the line open for the try and halfback Rory Kockott landed the conversion.
First five-eighths Jimmy Gopperth's second penalty goal pulled the score back to 6-7.
The Blues created chances but lost ball in vital stages but clever work by halfback Taniela Moa around the blindside of a maul saw him chip ahead and the Sharks were forced to kick the ball dead from inside the field of play.
That brought its reward from the scrum, when Gopperth doubled around to take the pass and fling a long ball which saw fullback Isaia Toeava race onto the ball and over for the try, after 25 minutes in Ndungane's tackle. Gopperth added the conversion to give the Blues a 13-10 lead.
Kockott attempted to level the scores from a penalty attempt after 31 minutes. He missed but at the 22m restart, the Blues mucked up possession and the Sharks claimed the ball and Kockott leveled the scores with a dropped goal.
Onosa'i Auva'a looked to go close after Kockett had the ball stolen when he attempted to run by Moa. From a ruck, Auva'a attempted to score in the corner but was ruled to have gone into touch before grounding the ball.
Two minutes from halftime flanker Jerome Kaino failed to secure the ball from a Terblanche bomb and his opposite number Jacques Botes raced onto it and was unchallenged in his run to the line. Kockott added the conversion.
Extra time at the end of the first half saw the Blues go close, only to fire a silly pass which was intercepted and taken well downfield before Sharks No.8 Ryan Kankowski dropped the ball for Toeava to carry play back upfield and