Edinburgh has held off a determined Sharks side to claim a 33-28 victory in Friday night's United Rugby Championship clash, delivering a result that hurts the Durban franchise precisely when they could least afford it.

The five-point margin flatters neither team. This was a bruising, fluctuating contest decided by fine margins, with Edinburgh scrapping for every point on home soil and the Sharks refusing to fold despite the mounting pressure of a campaign that has consistently promised more than it has delivered.

For Edinburgh, this was not a comfortable evening's work. They have made a habit of late of surviving by the skin of their teeth — their 31-30 win over Zebre just a week ago showed the same nervy resilience — and this performance carried that same edge. Credit is due to their leadership for grinding out a result when the game repeatedly threatened to escape them. Home advantage was earned, not gifted.

The Sharks, meanwhile, will make the long journey back to Durban with serious questions to answer. JP Pieterson's side has now lost consecutive URC fixtures, following the 21-17 defeat to the Ospreys on 18 April, a result that sparked its own controversy around uncontested scrums. Back-to-back losses in this phase of the season, combined with the Challenge Cup exit at the hands of Connacht in early April, paint a picture of a franchise losing its footing at the worst possible time. The playoff picture demands points now, not spirited near-misses.

Edinburgh travel to Wales to face Dragons on 9 May with momentum restored and confidence rebuilt. The Sharks host Benetton on the same weekend in a fixture that has taken on the unmistakable weight of a must-win.