IT WAS the battle of the big cats for the final of the Group 16 Nines tournament at the George Brown Memorial Oval on Sunday. 

The returning Bay Tigers took on the Eden Tigers for supremacy, with the Bay outfit winning with a rampant second-half. 

Bay coach Matt Cross offered commiserations to the Eden squad, who played well and congratulated his team for its efforts. 

The Bay were obviously out to win it all, as the club also took home $200 cash after winning a four-man 100 metre relay event. 

The club's full back provided the anchor for the effort, getting a sprint to overcome Eden, which was running first for the three leading legs. 

To reach the final, the Bay upset the fancied Moruya outfit on for and against with both squads picking up a win in their pool. 

Moruya defeated the Bay in their clash, but had suffered a one-point loss to Cooma, where the Tigers had neatly ran over the Stallions 25-7.

Eden meanwhile, proved a strong contender in the southern pool with a sensational win over Merimbula-Pambula in the opening match. 

They then backed it up with a 4-4 draw against the Bega Roosters.

Narooma topped the "middle" pool, with respective wins over the Candelo-Bemboka Panthers and the Bombala Blue Heelers. 

On for and against, the Bega Roosters were awarded the fourth team spot in the semi-finals and had to face the Bay Tigers. 

Meanwhile, Eden took on Narooma. 

Eden had a convincing win over the Devils in the first semi and claimed a berth in the grand final match. 

Batemans Bay had some clever plays to overcome the Roosters and pick up their place in the decider. 

A final was to be held to decide third place between the Roosters and the Devils, but the Narooma outfit opted to leave and forfeited the prize to the Bega squad.