This time, however, it cost the side dearly as the previously undefeated outfit went down 36-28 to a determined Woolgoolga Sea Horses in round five of the 2008 Group 2 VB Mid Rugby League competition.

The Sharks went into the match without talented five-eighth Walter Hati, who was forced to withdraw with a hamstring injury.

Hooker Joe Cudmore was a late scratching, following an injury in the Group representative match at Armidale the day before.

Fresh reserve Livia Warra also failed to turn up at Woolgoolga and the side lost lock Ben Cudmore after 22 minutes of play.

On top of that, another three players backed up from Saturday's duties.

"We were all over them for the first 20 minutes - and it looked like by how many," Sharks football operations manager Les Murphy told the Port News.

"But, errors crept into our play and the determined Woolgoolga team swooped on them and made us pay dearly.

"Dropped balls, silly options and missed tackles let the Seahorses grow another leg and race to a handy 12-point lead early in the second half.

"The loss has seen us slip from outright second to fifth spot, however, we still have a match up our sleeve.

"We will regroup this week and it would not surprise to see positional changes or a couple of new selections in a bid to get us back on track against second-placed Sawtell on Sunday at Port Macquarie."

With Woolgoolga unable to field an under 18 side, the Sharks' reserves got the day off to a bright start with a 26-16 win.

The victory has the Sharks sitting pretty in second spot - just two points behind Macleay Valley.

The fixture also saw the long-awaited return of s econd-rower Michael Bright.

Returning from injury, Bright produced his usual strong game and he scored the first try of the match.

The Sharks led 16-12 at half-time following two other four-pointers to Chris Green and Anthony Shipway.

Dave Campbell and under 18 player Addam Greenaway each scored a second half try while Green booted three goals.

Best players on the day were centre Dylan Ramm, hooker Greenaway, front-rower Damian Carter and replacement players Chase Brock and Mitchell Lawrence.

In the first grade encounter, hooker James Kelly scored the opening try from dummy half after just three minutes.

Almost immediately, fullback Josh Mann got a super inside pass from Bright to score under the black dot.

Then, at the 15-minute mark, winger Matt Doherty was on the end of a speculator pass from Mann and he touched down in the corner.

Matt Webber converted the three early tries and the Sharks led 18-0.

However, in the space of 45 minutes, Woolgoolga posted five tries to lead 30-18 mid-way through the second period.

Second-rower Kurt Molony got the Sharks back in the match with two block bustling runs in the 60th and 71st minute, which resulted in tries.

The Sharks trailed 30-28, with three minutes remaining, but an error saw Woolgoolga score under the posts and steal the two competition points.

Club awards:

First grade - best players: 3 Josh Cale, 2 James Kelly, 1 Kurt Molony; defence: 3 Caleb Sallustio, 2 Clinton Foot, 1 Michael Bright; players' players: Kurt Molony, James Kelly

Reserve grade - best players: 3 Dylan Ramm, 2 Addam Greenaway, 1 Damian Carter; defence: 3 Dylan Ramm, 2 Chase Brock