MATT Clarke's sending off completed a day to forget for West London Sharks as they went down at home to reigning champions St Albans Centurions.
Sharks started the brighter and came agonisingly close to a score after just five minutes when Damian Mohan playing the ball to Tom Duffy, who kicked through for Mohan to chase, but with the try line at his mercy, he lost control of the ball.
Sharks didn't need to wait long for their opening score though, as captain Rob McLean intercepted a pass and broke forward before Adie Lewis cut in from the left and burst through several tackles to score, although Duffy missed the touchline conversion.
Lewis was the next to intercept, allowing him a burst forward, and only a last ditch tackle prevented him getting across the whitewash. Instead, the visitors bagged their first try a minute later and took the lead with the conversion.
Sharks responded quickly, with J.P. Byrnes scoring his first try in two seasons, although Duffy missed the conversion once more.
As the visitors continued to give away penalties, Adrian Miller took advantage to notch his first Sharks try, and Duffy this time put over the extras.
However, this seemed to wake the Cents up from their slumber, and although a superb last ditch tackle by Chris Towells prevented a try, it was only to be a temporary reprieve as Cents scored just two minutes later.
They too failed with the kick, but on the stroke of half-time Cents scored another try, and an impressive touchline conversion gave them a 16-14 half-time lead.
It was now Sharks' turn to give away the soft penalties, and one such incident not only saw Cents score another converted try, but Clarke receive his marching orders for showing dissent to the official.
Mohan looked like reducing the deficit when he was sent away down the left wing with 15 minutes left, but as he lunged for the line he was tackled in to touch.
But the numerical disadvantage was starting to tell, and two more Cents tries with eight and five minutes left broke the Sharks' brave resistance.
On the final play of the game, Mohan finally crossed the line for his well deserved try, and Duffy failed to add the extras.
