South Wagga captain Joel Robinson has put South Wagga in a strong position heading into the second day of the grand final rematch.
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In the top-of-the-table clash at McPherson Oval, an unbeaten 118 from the stand-in skipper saw the premiers declare at 2-287.
Blake Harper continued his excellent form with an unbeaten 77 as the pair put on 195 before the Cats were sent into bat.
Robinson was thrilled with his big score, just his second above 25 so this season.
"I feel like I've been going ok but it is nice to cash in and get some runs after doing it a bit tough early on," Robinson said.
"From a team's point of view it is really good to see the way our top order is batting.
"Everyone is hitting the ball really well and it is a really positive sign.
"Hopefully we can get the job finished next week."
Brayden Ambler and Alex Smeeth got the Blues off to a fast start in the Setters Village Challenge Cup clash.
Coming off making 95 for Riverina, Ambler was dismissed for 49 while Smeeth was the first man out after compiling 28.
Robinson thought their platform helped the big third-wicket partnership.
"We think the average score is probably lifted up from 20 or 30 in the past few years and we're looking to score 250 in most games we play in the two-dayers," he said.
"It was definitely the minimum we wanted to score and it was set up well at the top with Smeethy and Brayden before myself and Blake's partnership after that."
The Blues then made the most of the declaration as Smeeth bounced out Tom Burge for a duck.
Wagga City will resume at 1-5 on Saturday after the Blues struck in the third over of the second innings.
Robinson, who took the catch at leg slip, thought the wicket proved they made the right call to end their innings.
"It makes that declaration worthwhile," he said.
"If you go out there and don't get a wicket you can sit there and say what if we had of batted on.
"To get a wicket capped off a pretty good."
Burge and Rob Nicoll were elevated way up Wagga City's order after putting on a 64-run eighth-wicket partnership in the win over Wagga RSL last week.
Nicoll will resume on five however in another blow for the Cats chances, they will be without captain Josh Thompson for the second half of the clash.
Robinson wants the Blues to keep up the pressure.
"They've got a pretty good batting line up and I think Josh Thompson is out next week which will be a bonus for us," he said.
"He's a very good player."
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