Coach David Young was full of praise for the Blues' efforts despite going down 24-26 to the Sharks in the opening weekend of the Heineken Cup.
"I am proud of their efforts this evening", he said. "No one gave us a chance and we have shocked a fw people with how close we came to winning.
"Obviously we are disappointed - it is a very quiet changing room at the moment - but we will learn from one or two crucial tactical mistakes in the closing stages.
"There is still much to look forward to in this campaign and now wemust turn our attentions to next week and the viit of Leinster Lions to Cardiff Arms Park."
Young, a three-times British & Irish Lions' prop, was critical of the refereeing of the scrums. He said,
"We had a clear superiority in that department. Their loose-head [Andrew Sheridan} was not binding, his hand was on the ground most of the time, and we were even penalised twice when going forward. I couldn't understand it."