THE perfect start to the season is over for the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles after they went down 24-12 to the Shellharbour Sharks at Centenary Field on Sunday.
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Despite missing regular starters Kiran Tranter, Nick Greenhalgh and Dane Sablowski, the Sharks opened the scoring in the 10th minute when centre Declan Morrissy dived over from dummy-half - catching numerous Eagles' defenders napping in the right corner.
Halfback Matt Carroll converted from the sideline, despite the blustering conditions, and it was 6-nil after 11 minutes.
The visitors lead was doubled by Carroll in the 26th minute when he pounced on a Matt Forsyth kick - after both Kane Ball and Same Clune failed to clean up the ball.
The Sharks' skipper converted his own try, stretching the lead out to 12.
Things got worse for the hosts in the final five minutes of the half, when Sharks winger Jacob Seabrook scored his side's third.
Seabrook grabbed the loose ball after Dallas Harrison lost his feet and coughed it up, before outsprinting Ball to the try-line.
Carroll made no mistake with the boot from the near sideline and Abed Atallah's men led 18-nil.
Despite a late chance down the left edge, the Eagles' polish again deserted them - optimising an inconsistent half for the Eagles.
Needing to score first after the break, the Eagles did just that.
Three minutes after the resumption, electric five-eighth Jayden Harris danced his way through the Sharks' defensively line.
The youngster converted his own try and the score was 18-6.
Any momentum the Eagles had was abolished when James Rousell dived over for his first try in Sharks colours - following a flick-pass from Forsyth.
The Eagles continued to press for points but the Sharks' commitment on defence, including numerous try-saving tackles by fullback Ed Ansell, kept the hosts at bay.
The finally hosts added a late consolation try through Jarrod King with three minutes to go, which made it 24-12 after Harris' conversion.
The Sharks, who now improve to 2-1, were led by Ryan McCracken, Liam Scott, Brody Rigg and Carroll, who the Eagles were best served by Harris, Josh Sainsbury, Jack Scurr and Rodney Coates.
Next up for the victors is the Shellharbour Showdown against the Stingrays at Flinders Field on Sunday, while Ian Jones and Steve Johnson's troops travel to Michael Cronin Oval on Saturday to battle the undefeated Lions.