SHELLHARBOUR bounced back from a last-start loss to Gerringong to see off Albion Park-Oak Flats 24-12 on Sunday.
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The Sharks also overcame the game-day withdrawal of key men Kiran Tranter and Nick Greenhalgh to lead 18-0 at halftime and add another try in the second stanza.
Coach Abed Atallah was also without Dane Sablowski, but his side found a way to go 2-1.
"Losing our nine and six at the start of the day, the boys reacted to it really well," Atallah said.
"Our physicality is probably what impressed me the most. Those last two tries were very soft for us, but we defended well throughout most of the game.
"It's important, the two points, you can go up the ladder three or four spots or go down the ladder three or four spots. There's only eight games of footy so two points every week is crucial."
The Eagles grabbed two late tries but were their own worst enemy with the footy. It won't get any easier when they head south to take on Gerringong next weekend.
Coach Ian Jones said his side will need to give themselves a better chance with the footy after an error-riddled display.
"It was horrendous really, just to turn the ball over like we did," Jones said.
"We panicked a bit with the footy, which we haven't done at all this year. The blokes are pretty down about it, it was just one of those days.
"In any game of footy, you've got to mount pressure and get back to back sets and we never got any back to back sets at all.
"I thought our effort was good but you can't win games of footy doing that. A whole heap of blokes had a go [but] our completion rate was terrible. We've got to be better than that."
Also on Sunday Nowra-Bomaderry edged out Warilla 22-20 at Cec Glenholmes Oval.
On Saturday Gerringong snuck past Kiama 30-28 and Jamberoo ran in four tries to one in a 24-6 win over Berry-Shoalhaven.