Merimbula-pambula Bulldogs one hurdle from Group 16 minor premiership

The result sees the southern club holding their advantage from the Narooma Devils and Cooma Stallions heading into the final home and away round of the Group 16 season this weekend.

The Blue Heelers did mount a number of attacking runs against the Bulldogs on Sunday, but the Merimbula-Pambula defence stood firm repeatedly to turn away even close-range assaults.

A few handling errors both ways also saw the momentum shifting throughout the first half, but it was the Bulldogs finding a couple of handy options to lead 12-0 at the break.

The first came through play-making half Aidan Aitken, while the second four pointer was landed by the hard-running prop Grant Moon.

As clashes against the mountain teams often go it became battleground middle between the two squads as their swift and sizable forward packs lined up some bone crunching hits through the ruck to gain each valuable metre.

The Bulldogs were well served by their usual trio through the middle with Jack McGuire, Moon and captain-coach Daniel Cronk doing their best to weave and charge up the centre.

However, the Bulldogs were also bolstered by Tom McMillan off the bench who had some good hit ups, but provided exceptional service defensively with some hammering tackles on the Blue Heelers.

By the second half the middle was a warzone and the Bulldogs were finding more presence out wide with two second half tries both coming out of the flanks.

The first to bolter Luke Rixon and the second to Billy Doneman who was running on the right centre for Sunday's game.

The Bulldogs made few kicking mistakes, picking up three of four conversions, while a shot on goal after a penalty with just 40 seconds to play in the first half did disappointingly fall off to the left of the posts.

Both of Bombala's two unconverted tries also came in the fringes with winger Reagan Hurley and centre Liam Beazley the scorers for the visiting club.

Earlier, the Blue Heelers got the better of the Bulldogs in reserves winning 28-20. Bulldog Charlie McGuire scored a double.

The High Heelers were too strong in the league-tag fixture, taking the points with a 34-4 result.

Looking ahead, the Bulldogs will line up against the injury-laden Eden Tigers with the minor premiership on the line this weekend.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs' main rivals in Cooma and Narooma will face fierce challenges from Bega and Tathra respectively as the Roosters and Sea Eagles both face must-win encounters if they are to reach the top five for finals.