However, it wasn’t meant to be as Tathra decimated the Bulls’ bowlers and ran down the runs in just 27 overs.

The win puts Tathra clear on top of the ladder to go to the one-day final as favourite against the Merimbula Knights this weekend. 

Tathra has only lost one match in the season, while the Knights sit in second place, conceding one rare tie. 

Bega-Angledale veteran Dave Allen said the batting of Adam Blacka proved the difference on the day as Blacka opened up to score 118 runs. 

“He batted really well and won the game for them,” Allen said. 

“He’s a class player and when he fires he is just too good.

“He can play all around the wicket, he drives, pulls and cuts.”

The Bulls were shaping to open up a strong lead in the runs, and did finish on a commendable tally of 197. 

Brad Moon was in his regular strong form and steadily built up his runs from the open. 

Gavin Howard was dismissed for 14 off the bowling of Dan Blacka, but Moon pressed on scoring alongside Robbie Ringland. 

The duo had cleared triple figures before Moon was caught and bowled by Pete Bennett off a high-ball for 51. 

Ringland had settled in to the rhythm and reached 58 runs before he was dismissed by a catch from Jack Hukins. 

Allen said if one of the pair had of been able to clear a century it would have set the Bulls up to win. 

“We probably needed one of them to go on and get a really big score,” Allen said. 

The middle and lower order dropped quickly for the Bulls, but the tally had already surpassed 150. 

Hamish Wilcox (14) and Jack Matthews (12 not out) combined well to build up the tally to reach 197. 

Tathra captain Pete Bennett had been lethal with the ball in hand, taking six wickets for just 20 runs, including two maiden overs. 

In response Tathra took just 27 overs to run down the tally, losing just four wickets in the process. 

Craig Nicholson got 15 runs into the chase before he was dismissed by Lachlan Sims. 

Then Chris Dwyer and Geordie Gibbs were both returned to the sheds cheaply. 

However, Blacka proceeded to punish the Bega bowling line-up with his 118 run haul. 

He was ably supported by Cody Hazelgrove-Danvers and when Blacka was finally dismissed, Bennett chipped in to the batting to finish off his excellent game. 

Unfortunately for Bega-Angledale, the game has pushed the Bulls to the bottom of the ladder. 

The Bulls only had four players from last year’s grand finalist team. 

“Some of the guys you just can’t replace, we’ve got some young guys coming through, but we’re a few years off getting them to that standard,” Allen said. 

“Clubs go through rebuilding phases, which is unfortunately where we are at the moment.”