The Tathra Sea Eagles were handed a surprise loss by the Pambula Bluedogs on Saturday.
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The top placed teams in the Far South Coast Cricket Association's first division draw clashed in the qualifying final at Lawrence Park where the Bulldogs clinched the result.
Two near half-centuries saved an otherwise lack-lustre innings from the minor premiers as Tathra limped to all-out for 141 in sunny conditions at their home ground.
Captain Chris Dwyer was neatly bowled by Brendon Reynolds for just four, while soon after fellow opener Pete Bennett was also returned to the sheds, caught for four by Josh Hammond from a Lance Musgrave ball.
Tynan Taylor stepped up in a big way and started laying down some runs for the home club, building a 75-run partnership with Jayden Heyhorn.
Adam Blacka had knocked 15 before his dismissal, while Ben O'Reilly was returned to the sheds for a duck bringing Heyhorn to the crease.
Taylor was brought undone by a Shane Baird catch, just four runs short of his half-century on 46.
Heyhorn stayed on for a further 20 runs before he was caught by Musgrave on 45.
With John Chandler caught for a duck and Quinn Fletcher-Barrie run out for a single, things quickly looked south for Tathra.
Lachlan Trickey scored eight not-out in the tail end, but quickly found himself shy of batting partners as the final wickets fell cheaply to the Bluedogs.
Brendon Reynolds led the bowling for Pambula with three wickets, while Tim Wilson and Morgan Jackson both secured two, including three maidens from Jackson.
Sean Smith fired to a strong open for the Bluedogs, finishing on a match-best 59 not-out.
Fellow opener Tom Hammond belted some good strikes, but was caught by Ben O'Reilly off a Fletcher-Barrie delivery for 36 runs.
Pambula were bordering 60 runs when Hammond was returned to the sheds and a pair of ducks gave Tathra hope the tables could turn.
Jake Taylor was run out on a suicidal single dash, while Musgrave at four was caught out.
Unfortunately for Tathra, Tim Wilson backed up from his efforts with the ball to build a sterling 85-run partnership with Smith as the Bluedogs wrapped up the result in the 30th over.
Wilson finished on 45 not-out with the Bluedogs relegating Tathra to a preliminary final second chance after finishing on 3/146.
The Sea Eagles will now have to rally in the second chance final against their season-long rivals in the Merimbula Knights at Lawrence Park this weekend.
The Knights slipped to third on the table behind the Bluedogs, but were able to end Eden's finals hopes at Berrambool on Saturday after a knock of 94 not-out by Dylan Jordan following some neat bowling in the first innings.
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