The Sharks kept their slim Super 14 play-off hopes alive thanks to a nervous 23-10 victory over the Blues in Durban.
South Africa utility back Ruan Pienaar scored 14 points on his own, with a solitary try for the visitors coming from Peter Saili.
The manner of victory, though, would not have been completely pleasing for the host, which was looking for the four tries which would have secured a bonus-point win - still essential in its remaining three games.
But the win, nonetheless, handed coach John Plumtree's side a fifth in succession.
It was a cagey opening for the two sides at the Absa Stadium - both knowing defeat will almost certainly end their play-off chances.
The deadlock was eventually broken after 17 minutes when first five-eighths Stephen Brett sent over a penalty for the visitors - Steven Sykes guilty of entering the maul from the wrong side.
Pienaar levelled things up with a penalty of his own, before the New Zealanders grabbed to lead courtesy of the game's first try.
Brett was the provider, dodging two tackles to break the line and then sending Saili away to score under the post.
The Blues' No.10 easily added the extras, but the gap was instantly cut back by Pienaar, who got the chance after the visitors were caught off-side.
He had another chance to cut further into the lead, but this time sent a 35-metre kick wide, before making amends with the first five-pointer of the game for his side - a strong passage of play on the stroke of half-time eventually carving open the visiting defence.
Pienaar missed the conversion, but the Sharks still went into the break ahead of the first time in the game at 11-10.
The second period started much like the first one did as both sides found scoring opportunities few and far between.
The host eventually had its first chance 10 minutes in - the Blues penalised for not retreating 10 metres after an initial penalty - with Andy Goode bagging his first points of the game.
Brett had an opportunity to cancel out the Englishman's effort, but pulled his own penalty wide.
With the clock ticking over, the home side had plenty of good field position, which it failed to maximise fully as the error count also mounted.
Substitute halfback Rory Kockott did manage to extend the lead further, though, sending over back-to-back penalties - the first of which was from his own half.
Knowing it was too late to score three more tries needed for a bonus-point win, Pienaar added a late dropped goal to seal its fate and move to 25 points, nine off the semi-final places.
Scorers:
Sharks 23
Try: Pienaar
Pen: Goode, Pienaar 2, Kockott 2
Droppged goal: Pienaar
Blues 10
Try: Saili
Con: Brett
Pen: Brett.
HT: 11-10