Playing the sole open representative clash to be held in the Bega Valley at George Griffin Oval, the local contingent took the chocolates 5/278. 

Association spokesman Charles Aggenbach had favoured the team as one of the best in years and the side did not disappoint, finishing 60-runs clear of Monaro who were all-out for 218. 

“Our captain Adam Blacka won the toss on a semi-hot Bega morning, and [opening the batting] paid dividends even after Pete Bennett and Ben O’Reilly fell cheaply,” Aggenbach said. 

The Merimbula pairing of Matthew Lawson and Dylan Jordan quickly steadied the ship with a 104-run partnership. 

Jordan fell to a phenomenal catch by Monaro, returning him to the sheds on 71 runs.

And Lawson fell not long after just shy of a half-century, getting stumped one short on 49 runs. 

Their partnership had put shifted the Coasties to 4/150 about halfway through the innings, but it was a man-of-the-match performance by Matt Bell that all but sealed the result for the home side. 

Bell was unflappable, building to a match high of 84 runs, while Bermagui young gun Jack Allen piled on a further 47 runs with the pair staying firm for a 101-run partnership. 

Aggenbach said Monaro opened their reply well, but quickly found runs hard to come by.

“The locals knew the wicket well and it became slow and hard for the visitors to score if the bowlers were in the channel, but that’s what they did,” he said. 

Blacka was able to claim 2/31 off seven overs, while Bell had an extremely efficient outing with 0/24 off eight overs. 

“They opened bowling some very consistent line and length,” Aggenbach said. 

Meanwhile, he also praised up and comer Jay Stafford who bowled four overs and only gave up 16 wickets against what Aggenbach said was “quality opposition” at the crease. 

Known largely for his batting, Jordan showed some versatility and also picked up a handy pair of wickets claiming 2/40. 

Pete Bennett and Lachlan Brennan shared equal figures as both were able to clinch 2/12 with Brennan clearing the tail end. 

Aggenbach said it was a great result for the Far South Coast team, who will now look forward to their round three clash with Goulburn to run in Cooma on February 17. 

Far South Coast cricket officials thanked Woolworths in Bega who provided lunch for both teams on the day. 

Officials said it was part of Woolworths’ support for Australian cricket, but it was wonderfully received by both squads.