BAIRNSDALE'S Under 16s were at home and they came ready play in the Elimination Final against Wonthaggi on Sunday.
Kicking to the far end of the ground, with the aid of a howling gale, they put on 3.6 to Wonthaggi's 0.0 to have a stranglehold on the game from the outset.
Wonthaggi got their game up and rolling in the second and had most of the play but could only manage three points to half time while a more efficient Bairnsdale added another goal from only a couple of forward 50 entries.
With the wind sweeping across the ground the usual good skills at this level were tested and it was rare to see a string of more than three linked possessions as both teams played between the half back lines.
Despite the otherwise fine conditions it was a slog.
Bairnsdale had all the play in the third quarter and except for the heroics of the Wonthaggi defence including Will Simmons, Jackson Glenn, Lucas Ton, Jayden Burns and others they would have gone further ahead.
Finally though, it was Bairnsdale’s Chidi Otounye who marked a loose kick and check sided one through just before the last break there was no coming back from there.
Wonthaggi had all of the play in the last quarter with the likes of Ayden Fawaz driving it forward with one of his characteristic runs. Nathan had a shot after a free kick that was blown out on the full after starting on target.
Finally though, Sam Carter ran on with the ball through the centre to where Jaxon Brouwers got reward for effort for the Power with a goal with only minutes left on the clock.
A good-sized crowd of Wonthaggi Power supporters got around the team as they came off, applauded their efforts in tough conditions.
Final scores: Bairnsdale 5.11.41 def Wonthaggi 1.4.10.
