DUBBO recorded a comfortable win over Cobar on Sunday but it still wasn't enough to claim top spot in the Brewery Shield.
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Wellington's win over Gilgandra saw them finish first and advance straight through to the grand final meaning Dubbo will play in this weekend's preliminary semi-final, at home against Cobar again.
They will head into that match full of confidence after a 42-run win at No. 2 Oval on Sunday.
More importantly for captain Matt Ellis was the way the win was recorded, with a number of players contributing in a real team effort.
Ellis won the toss and batted on Sunday and Asher Robins and Marty Jeffrey got the Dubbo side off to a positive start.
Against a new-ball partnership which included former Western Zone quick Wade Potter, the opening pair took the score to 53 before Robins fell for 34.
"We felt really comfortable out there and Marty was turning the strike over really well," Robins said.
"I was happy to contribute, I would have liked a few more, but Marty batted really well for a young guy coming into a representative game and facing a bowler like Wade."
Three more wickets fell in quick succession before Jeffrey brought up his half-century but when he fell for 52 Cobar were right back in the match at 5-119.
But some late hitting from tailenders Angus Cusack (23) and Nick Karydis (20) saw Dubbo go well past 150 and finish with 187. Cusack then opened the bowling and took a wicket with just his second ball to have Cobar 1-1 and Dubbo were soon right on top with the score 3-29.
Carl Rieck was showing plenty of fight at one end and combined for a 57-run partnership with Potter (30) to keep the run chase alive.
Off-spinner Stuart Naden was introduced into the attack and he soon had his former RSL-Colts teammate Potter caught by Ben Knaggs.
Naden and Jack Busch, who picked up Rieck for 53, then worked their way through the middle and lower order to give Dubbo all the momentum.
"At the second drinks break they were on top with Wade batting really well but we came back and Jack Busch and Stuart Naden bowled really well and bowled to the field and once we got Wade we were on top from there," Robins said.
Robins said while it was disappointing to miss out on top spot and an automatic spot in the final but the chance to play another match this weekend would help the momentum of the young Dubbo side.
After only playing two matches before Christmas, this weekend's final against Cobar will be their fourth Sunday playing in a row.
"We can really get some more momentum which could be good for us," Robins said.
"And Wellington have been playing well, they've got Keiran Brien who has been batting so well lately and some other good cricketers so they probably deserve to be top."