With a strong result over the Pambula Bluedogs on Saturday, the Sea Eagles have locked in an unassailable lead on the competition, sitting almost 40 points ahead of their nearest rival with just one regular round left to play. 

The Sea Eagles contained the Bluedogs to just 99 runs on Saturday at the Pambula Sporting Complex, but the Bluedogs did put the competition front-runners under a bit of pressure in reply. 

The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first against the visiting Sea Eagles, but the top order conceded cheap wickets before a tail order fight back salvaged the innings. 

Josh Hammond got to 11 runs at opener, but the next four wickets fell for less than 15 combined runs as both Shane Baird and Jake Taylor were returned to the sheds for just three runs apiece. 

Opener Ethan Adams had an even trickier start, mustering just two before he was dismissed by the Tathra attack. 

Club veteran Gil Mitchell was the first to offer solid resistance for the hosts, climbing to a 25-run haul before he was returned to the sheds off an Adam Check catch. 

Gabriel Walker then knocked 12 and a further 16 runs to Brendon Reynolds helped tip the Bluedogs closer to triple figures. 

With Pete Bennett scoring a late duck against Lewis Hopkins and the tail end also going out cheaply the Bluedogs’ innings was ended in the 35^th over for just 99 runs. 

The bowling honours were shared in the Tathra camp, with Bennett, Check, Rhys Cunningham and Braiden McIntosh all securing two wickets apiece. 

However, the Tathra batting order wobbled in reply before a middle order surge finished off the chase in the 22^nd over with Tathra claiming the result on 103 runs. 

Quinn Fletcher-Barrie opened and was cut short on eight runs by a Jake Taylor catch. 

Fellow opener Tynan Taylor made 26 before he was caught and then it looked like Pambula might be back in the contest. 

Gordon Wiegold, Cunningham and McIntosh were all returned to the sheds by catches but shared just six runs between them. 

However, Check and Geordie Gibbs quickly put the visitors back on top with Check top scoring on 35 not out and Gibbs adding 26 before he was dismissed. 

Tathra finished on 6/103. 

The Sea Eagles will travel to Merimbula’s Berrambool Oval on Saturday to compete with the Merimbula Knights in a top-of-the-table clash. 

Play is from 1pm with semi-finals to be played on March 3.