Stale Sharks taught lesson in using limited chances as Edinburgh win in Durban quagmire

Edinburgh gave the Sharks a timely reminder on the value of maximising opportunities with a laudable 21-5 victory in treacherous conditions at Kings Park on Saturday evening.

AS IT HAPPENED | Sharks v Edinburgh

Much like the Stormers' triumph over Ulster earlier in the day - though that was also down to a debatable TMO decision - the team who didn't "win" in terms of the stats were the overall victors.

The Durbanites enjoyed a surfeit of possession and, importantly in a rain-soaked affair, territory, but lacked the accuracy and patience to turn much of that dominance into something more tangible.

In fact, with the benefit of hindsight, this reverse suggests that the Sharks' iffy form over the past few weeks might've become a bit of a slump.

Their one glaring weakness remains: a flyhalf to take control.

Curwin Bosch, despite talk of a minor resurgence in the past month, had a miserable outing.

While one wouldn't want to blame him too much for missing all three of his kicks at goal - one was in front of the posts, however - his general play left much to be desired.

A supposed cross-kick in the first half on attack for wing Werner Kok was instead to his opposite number Freddie Owsley, a kick to touch shortly after the turnaround was sliced and kept in play and the penalty he conceded for straying in front of his half-back partner Grant Williams' box-kick eventually led to Edinburgh's third try.

HISTORIC ?@EdinburghRugby take the first URC W in South Africa!! ??#URC | #SHAvEDI pic.twitter.com/ErhVGdx181

No-one expects magic in a game like this, but basic solidity is a must.

Despite being excellent in the set-pieces, particularly the scrums, the Sharks were bereft of ideas and didn't even get their go-to weapon, the maul, going.

Williams