The flipside of that is those charged with making vital decisions about the conduct of any game, whether it be a backyard cricket bout or a World Cup final, must do everything in their power to get it right.

Mistakes can rob deserving teams of the chance to show what they can do and have the potential to erode public confidence in the integrity of the game.

The apparent failure of the Women's National Basketball League to honour its side of the deal, thanks to some questionable refereeing during the grand final series match between the Canberra Capitals and Adelaide Lightning in Adelaide on Wednesday night, has led to both these outcomes.

There is little doubt the Capitals, who had been hoping to wrap up their eighth national title with two game wins back-to-back, were denied the chance to do so by a controversial buzzer beating throw, a double-dribble, carry and travel, and a dubious foul.

It just isn't good enough for League boss, Sally Phillips, to decline to answer calls from this newspaper about the decisions and then issue a statement glossing over the matter.

You can't sweep under the carpet the fact hundreds of people at the packed Adelaide Arena looked on in disbelief as the winning goal, which handed the game to Lightning 74 to 73, was scored off a throw that did not commence until after the backboard lit up.

That said, it is not known if the backboard at the opposite end of the court lit up at the same time.

If the throw had been disallowed it would have given the Canberrans the chance to regain the initiative and close the series.

That, alas, was not to be. As a result the series decider will play out at the AIS Arena on Saturday.

Capitals coach Paul Goriss, a passionate believer in the quality of his team, is understandably angry and disappointed.

"If everybody has a look at the last five seconds and the last one second, everyone will see the truth," he said.

Given the WNBL has justified its failure to review the decision, at least in part, on the grounds it doesn't "have the capacity to implement an instant replay system", Goriss would love to see one brought in as soon as possible.

He is certain of one thing; that the setback has rekindled a fresh fire under his team and that they will be going into Saturday night's game, which promises to be the grudge match of the decade, very, very hungry.

It's now up to ACT sports lovers turn out in force to show their support and get behind our team - and many already have with more than half the tickets already snapped up.

Yes, Canberra was robbed through no fault of its own on Wednesday.

But there's still a chance to right a wrong, and the Caps are promising to give local fans the game of a lifetime in their own hometown. Don't miss it.