Wanting to prove their last-gasp draw against Moruya was not a fluke, and to keep their finals hopes alive, the first grade Blue Heelers overcame a sloppy start on behalf of both sides to score the game's first points when Suru retrieved a loose pass close to the line and stepped his way over.

Early head injuries to Hugh Platts and Bailey Jones, who had his legs taken out from under him while in the air, saw the interchange bench under pressure from the get go.

Neither Platts nor Jones were able to return to the field and the shot on Jones earned the defender 10 minutes in the bin.

Down one player, Tathra was the next to score. However, heady play during this period saw Bombala score two tries by starving their opposition of ball.

The first try was on the back of a brilliant run from Ben Mooney who stepped and bounced past three would-be defenders and deliver the final pass for Tex Badago to score. CJ Patton kept his try-scoring spree going when he burst through from close range to score under the posts and head into half time 18-6 up.

Despite giving away a very soft try straight out of the break, the second half from the local boys was their best of the season. Every player was having a say in the final result in a true team performance.

After initially getting back into the grind they were also willing to show their attacking prowess and took every opportunity to score points.

Rather than go into their shell they threw everything at Tathra and played extremely entertaining football that had the crowd screaming for more.

The boys were hunting in packs in both attack and defence and by the final whistle they had scored 46 points against a very good opposition.

Coach Joe Bobbin said the team should celebrate their win, but should also be ready to produce week in week out now they had shown their fans what they can deliver.

In reserve grade, hurting from their last start loss, the lads wanted to get back into the winners circle.

After a solid settling in period, Bombala was able to mount pressure by controlling the ball and five-eighth Nick Rosten put Brett Hodak over with a lovely short ball after 10 minutes.

Possession and field position see sawed until the Tathra half decided it was time to slice the game open when he scored two individual tries both up the middle of the defence to see the Bombala boys down 6-10.

Better ball control and organisation in the forwards saw captain-coach James Coates cross the line from close range to score a well deserved four-pointer of his own. Just when it looked like that would round out the scoring, a loose ball saw the Tathra winger go 80 metres down the sideline to score as the half time hooter was sounding.

The second half was a gripping affair with both sides up for the arm wrestle. Again field position on the back of good ball control saw the weight of possession tell in Bombala's favour when Dylan Elton beat three defenders to barge over the line.

Not long after Rosten, scampered from dummy half and tricked the on-line defence to score his own four pointer to take the score to 22-14 in the Heelers' favour.

From the restart the Bombala side put in a solid set with a kick on the final play hemming the opposition in goal. From the drop out Brett Hodak, who was relishing the challenge, scythed through the Tathra defence in a 30-metre run that saw would-be defenders lying behind him like tenpins. With sturdy defence and the ball in hand in attack the reggies were able to grind out a very well worked 26-14 win.

To keep their opponents scoreless in the second half was a wonderful result and sees them as real finals candidates.

Meanwhile, looking to cement their standing in the comp the league tag ladies were all class in a clinical display against the struggling Tathra outfit.

Scoring began almost from the outset when with her first touch of the ball Karter Hampshire outpaced the defence to score under the posts.

This was to be a sign of things to come as she was to be a threat every time she got the ball. Because of wonderful defence and secure ball control Bombala was able to wedge Tathra in its own half for long periods and capitalised during almost every set.

Tries to Erin Donnelly, Georgie Clarke, Patrice Clear as well as another to Hampshire saw the half time score 26-0

Not to rest on their laurels, the team started the second half really wanting to put the opposition to the sword. Every player was playing their part as either a ball distributor, a try scorer or a defender in a true team performance.

While racking up points the ladies were equally mindful of maintaining their brick wall defence that has been their main strength all season. By the time the dust had finally settled the Bombala side had amassed 56 points without letting their opponents score.

This weekend all three sides take on Cooma in the local derby at Cooma on Saturday to be followed by a dress up theme party at Club Bombala afterwards. Ladies league tag begins at 1pm with first grade kicking off at 3.30pm.