After winning the toss in Saturday’s clash at Lackey Park in Moss Vale, Shoalhaven batted first and never looked comfortable.

Openers Kieran Gray and Adam Ison were unable to reproduce their good form from the opening round, with Ison dismissed for one, before Gray was out for five.

Blake Munilla and Allen Sullivan could only manage three runs each before departing, while Scott Fagerlund was out for two.

Batemans Bay’s Matt Sethi (17) was the only player in the top six to reach double figures, but Shoalhaven were left reeling at 6/37 when he departed.

That soon became 7/38 when skipper Michael Coulter was out for a duck.

Jeff Dudgeon and Jordan Matthews managed to spend a bit of time out in the middle, but not many runs were scored in the process.

The biggest partnership for the visitors was between Dudgeon and Joel Gray, who put on 27 for the ninth wicket.

Gray made 17, before Dudgeon was the last man out.

Dudgeon top-scored with 18 in their modest total of 86.

Alex Debs was the pick of the Goulburn/Highlands bowlers, with 3/27 from eight overs.

The rest of the wickets were shared around, with Mitchell Wright (2/15), Dean Webb (2/10) and Murray Burgoyne (2/16) taking two apiece.

With a small total to defend, Shoalhaven were going to need early wickets if they were going to have any chance, and they did just that.

Opening bowlers Joel Gray and Jordan Matthews each took an early wicket, leaving the home side at 2/6.

There was a faint glimmer of hope when Matthews took a second wicket to make it 3/24, but that was as good as it got.

Ben Hamilton (26 not out) and Dane Stevenson (16 not out) saw them home for the loss of just four wickets.

Matthews finished with figures of 2/28, while Justin Weller also picked up a wicket for Shoalhaven.

Shoalhaven were left to play off for third spot with South East on Sunday, while Goulburn/Highlands went into the final against South Coast.