The mighty Eden Tigers bowed out of Group 16 competition on Sunday on a sour note, going down to the Bombala Blue Heelers.
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The Blue Heelers reaped the rewards of a home round, securing a clean sweep in front of a hardy crowd in icy conditions on Sunday.
With the thermometer barely dabbing over zero degrees, The home team set about shutting down the Tigers in their final round of play.
Unfortunately the draw meant the Eden Tigerettes, who were within striking distance of a fifth place finish, were left to tackle the minor premier High Heelers in the league-tag clash.
The visiting Tigerettes were outclassed on the day with Bombala showing plenty of the form that has placed it as a competition favourite in the grade.
Eden opportunities were shut down by a stoic defence, while the High Heelers were rampant in attack, running in pairs and firing off set plays to win 34-0.
A pair of tries was awarded to each Natasha Stewart, Amy Stone and Patrice Clear.
However, kicking proved an issue with some blustery conditions making life hard for the hosts. The Heelers kicked just three from seven in their conversion attempts.
The second game of the day saw Eden’s allies in the Bermagui-Cobargo Eels also going down to the hard-hitting mountain men in a tense battle 26-12.
Club secretary Dave Allen said the Eels were short a number of players from the encounter, but hoped to be back at full strength with the Eels slinking through to an elimination finals berth (see story page 26).
The last hurrah for the first grade Tigers also went wanting after a troublesome season peppered with major injuries came to a head against the Blue Heelers.
The representative star from the Heelers proved the difference on the day when captain and centre Joe Bobbin found himself over the line three times in the match.
The Tigers had no difficulty in cutting good lines toward the Bombala pack, but breaking through proved difficult with tries to the visitors mostly falling to the hard-running forwards.
Matt Evelyn and Adam Leech both crashed over the line, while centre Zac Slater was able to work past the opposition and secure a four-pointer for the Tigers.
With the weather not improving, kicking still provided a thorn in the side of the hosts, booting just one conversion from nine attempts, while the Tigers were able to put two through the sticks with one each to Dylan Fletcher and John Aldridge.
The Tigers went down to the hosts 38-16.
There will be one glimmer of hope left for the Eden club with the under 18s securing an elimination finals berth.
The game is scheduled for play at 12.15pm in Cooma on Saturday, but the Eels and Tigers are yet to confirm playing numbers with other commitments on the day and may be forced to forfeit.