Such was the case for the Highlanders yesterday in Perth.
Conceding a try after just 42 seconds, the Highlanders were playing catch-up rugby all night.
And they did not catch up.
Though they got back to within five points at the end, thanks to some impressive individual performances, it was a case of too little, too late.
The silly errors, which have plagued the side all year, were there again, especially in the first half, with passes not going to hand, balls being knocked on, and players being caught out of position.
The side conceded another try after five minutes, and though they enjoyed more ball as the game went on, they ran out of time.
It was a gutsy fightback, but one always got the feeling the Force knew it had the game tucked away.
It led 23-0 at the break, but never really kicked on as the Highlanders had more possession in the second stanza and got some phases going.
Winger Fetu'u Vainikolo had a try ruled out with 10 minutes to go because of a forward pass.
If awarded, it would have got the side within a converted try of a win.
But the pass was correctly ruled forward, and the side had to wait until the last play of the game for skipper Jimmy Cowan to dot down and give his side two bonus points.
But if the Highlanders finished well, they started poorlyThey could not catch the kick-off and the ball was shifted a couple of rucks before Matt Giteau put through a grubber for centre Ryan Cross to score.
Departing winger Scott Staniforth - within five minutes - scored a try as the Force continued to plunder at will down the one side, as all four of their tries were scored down Vainikolo's wing.
The Highlanders enjoyed a period of attack after Staniforth's try and if anything their failure to score then, when Vainikolo was pushed out in the corner, was critical to the match outcome.
Staniforth scored his second after a great Giteau cross-kick three minutes before the break, and theForce's fourth try came on the back of a good run by fullback Drew Mitchell, who released winger Haig Sare.
The Highlanders fightback was led by rookie winger Ben Smith, who sneaked over two minutes into the second half.
He then collected a Giteau chip, and burst 40m to score under the posts.
Straight from the kick-off, fullback Israel Dagg cross-kicked to Smith, and lock Tom Donnelly ranging wide picked up the try, with 15 minutes left, and the Highlanders had a sniff.
But it was not to be with Cowan's effort at the end courtesy of a good run from replacement Jayden Hayward.
Smith was the best for the Highlanders, while Donnelly was strong in the line-out, and blindside flanker Adam Thomson got around the paddock.
Force 33 (Scott Staniforth 2, Ryan Cross, Haig Sare tries, Matt Giteau 3 penalty goals, 2 conversions) Highlanders 28 (Ben Smith 2, Tom Donnelly, Jimmy Cowan tries, Daniel Bowden four conversions) Half-time: Force 23-0.
