But they can console themselves about defeat as the quality of the Stormers is beyond contention. They appear to be the complete team. The giant Andries Bekker could have won lineout ball all day - what with being a foot taller than everyone on the field. All around him were big mobile men who made their presence felt at the breakdown and the set piece. Not only that, but they worked on their feet on defence to cover the ground.
That was the hardest part for the Highlanders - no matter how well they moved the ball, no matter how much width they found, it was next to impossible to cross the white line.
The Stormers have the best defensive record in the competition and it was easy to see why. Their line speed was impressive and relentless. Their strength in the collision was frightening.
It's rare indeed to see big men like Jarrad Hoeata being buckled then sent backwards. Adam Thomson was dealt to much of the time as well and the Highlanders, despite their aggression and commitment, were smashed in that key area.
It was also a problem that the Highlanders weren't given time to settle on the ball and the way the visitors scrambled and harried to keep their shape was a sign they are side with absolute belief and commitment in what they are doing.
What marked them as particularly dangerous was their ability to turn defence into attack. They were happy enough to let the Highlanders have the ball for periods and then pounce when they had half a chance. They were outdone in territory and possession by some margin but that didn't stop them from being lethal.
The best example of that came late in the first half when Joe Pietersen gathered a tricky Aaron Smith chip ahead that could have bounced more kindly for the Highlanders. Instead the blond fullback took off deep inside his own 22, ghosting past the big forwards who stood no chance of bringing him down. A quick recycle saw the ball go back through the hands and Pietersen collected an inside pass deep inside the Highlanders 22, chipped over Buxton Popoali'i, gathered on the full and touched down for arguably the try of the season so far.
The Highlanders never quite had that same ability. They suffered from losing Ben Smith midway through the first half as the occasional All Black had been a threat with a few explosive runs from the back.
The ever-willing Shaun Treeby hammered away on the gain line all game and the frustration mounted in the final quarter when the Stormers allowed a cynical edge to enter the game. They became a little too keen to kill the ball and concede the three points rather than the five and a card could have been shown earlier than the 65th minute.
The Highlanders didn't like it; they allowed it to bother them a bit but that's the thing about the best teams - they do whatever they can to win and stretching the laws and getting away with it is a skill.
Highlanders 6 (C. Noakes 2 pens), Stormers 21 (G. Aplon, J. Pietersen tries; J. Pietersen pen; P. Grant con, pen). Halftime: 6-15.
