Despite the loss Sharks still remain in a strong position to avoid the drop. The Dewsbury based club sit one point behind East Leeds and Hunslet Warriors who are in ninth and tenth respectively.

With Head Coach Brett Turner absent it was Assistant Coach Andrew Fawkes who took on the role of Head Coach for yesterday’s game.

Fawkes was disappointed with the loss but is confident that Sharks can get the points they need in their remaining five games.

He said: “I think we played well, we lost the energy battle in the end the score-line doesn’t reflect how the game went it was to and fro all the way through.

“In the second half they had us on our line for about three or four sets and I think that told in the last 10 minutes we lost the energy and they were still flying high. We are disappointed but we always knew it would be a tough one to come here.”

“The next three games are massive for us. They are probably going to be the difference between us staying up or going down. Two wins is what we need out of them, if we continue with the performances then we should have a really good chance of winning the important games.”

The game started with the visitors on the front foot as they mounted pressure on the Underbank line. The hosts held out well as Shaw Cross struggled to find a way through.

Underbank were first on the score-sheet with 20 minutes played. The ball was pumped long from behind half way and Jordan Higo displayed his thundering pace to be first to the kick and score.

Sharks responded well with a try of their own as a cross field kick from Sam Ottewell was spilled by Higo and Jack Gledhill was there to collect the loose ball and touch down.

The sides remained level until minutes before the break when Underbank turned defence into attack to regain the lead. The ball was kicked along the floor for 60 metres and the Rangers number 8 scooped the ball up before putting it down over the try line.

The second half started much like the first except this time it was hosts who were on the front foot.

Underbank remained in the ascendency for the majority of the half and their pressure paid off with eight minutes remaining.

A break in the Shaw Cross line allowed the hosts to go underneath the posts and increase their advantage.

The final nail was put in the Sharks coffin as Higo was on the end of a smart pass and the winger showed blistering pace to get over the line and seal the win for his side.

The Sharks will look to bounce back quickly as they host Millom on Saturday. A win could see them move two places clear of the bottom four if East Leeds and Hunslet Warriors are unable to secure wins of their own.