The Deni Rhinos Division Two side will miss the Murray Valley Cricket Association finals, following a four-wicket loss to Tocumwal on Saturday.

Playing at Tocumwal Recreation Reserve in what was a home and away season elimination final, the Rhinos won the toss and elected to bat first.

The Bloods were desperate for a win which was reflected in their bowling, holding the Rhinos to just 8/106 after the allotted 35 overs.

Hunter Hardwidge did the most damage with the ball, taking 3/10 off his six overs, while Raymond Sutton (2/2 off four) and Kalle Stewart (2/29 off seven) took the remaining wickets.

The home side cruised to victory in their run chase, taking just 26 overs to reach 6/112 to book their spot in the finals.

In his first game for the Bloods, Rahul Thakur top scored with 38 not out, scoring the winning runs alongside Hardwidge (23) in a 50 run partnership.

Andrew Jones also impressed with the bat with 30 runs.

The loss brought an end to the Rhinos’ season, finishing fifth on the ladder behind the Bloods by three premiership points.

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Deni’s Division One were no match for minor premier Finley, with the Cats scoring a 66 run win at home on Saturday.

With only pride on the line, the Rhinos were forced to bowl first after the home side won the toss and elected to bat.

Veteran bowler Phil Rotherham (1/4 off four) struck early for Deni, seeing the dangerous Cameron Isedale (seven) caught to have the Cats 1/17.

Paul Massingham came to the crease and together with skipper Cougar McGrath piled on the runs.

The pair managed a 124 run second wicket partnership before McGrath (47) was bowled by Kai Hillier (2/15 off five).

Massingham soon followed his skipper to the shed, bowled by Hillier, after an impressive knock of 83, which included eight boundaries and three ‘sixes’.

With the score at 3/144, Murray Urquart and Russell Anderson were in the middle.

The duo finished off the work started by the previous pair, with Urquart (37 not out) and Anderson (28 not out) adding a further 72 runs to finish the Cats’ 40 overs at 3/216.

Quick wickets in the run chase proved costly for the Rhinos, with the visitors falling to 4/49.

Opening batsman Chris Pyle smashed his way to 79 runs before being bowled by Darcy Webb (3/19 off seven), but with little support the Rhinos dropped well short of the target, finishing their innings at 7/150.

Mick Barnett (29 not out) and Cameron McDonald (17) were the only other Deni batsmen to reach double figures.

Archie Mason (3/38 off eight) and Massingham (1/25 off eight) picked up the remaining wickets for the Cats in a stellar performance.

The Rhinos finished the season at sixth spot on the ladder, while the Cats finished on top to book a home final against Cobram-Yarroweyah United on Saturday.