It was a mixed bag for Bairnsdale on the football oval in week one of the Gippsland League finals series last weekend.
The under 16s went down to Leongatha in their qualifying final at Ted Summerton Reserve in Moe last Saturday.
After getting off to a dream start in the opening term — kicking four goals to two — the Redlegs managed only four more majors for the rest of the match.
Scores were locked at half-time, but the Parrots overran Bairnsdale in the second half, kicking 11 goals to four to pull away for a 41-point victory.
Seth Adams was the sole multiple goalkicker for Bairnsdale, finishing with two.
Tom Carter, Archer Crawley, Isaac Brown, Cedric Taylor, Charlie Crane and Luca Desio were named among the Redlegs’ best performers.
Bairnsdale’s under 16s will now face local rival Sale in a high-stakes elimination final at Leongatha on Sunday.
There was better fortune for the under 18s, who secured a hard-fought 14-point win over Leongatha at Drouin on Sunday to keep their season alive.
After jumping out to an 18-point lead at quarter time, Bairnsdale saw its margin cut to just a single point at the main break.
The Redlegs made their move in the premiership quarter, kicking five goals to two to establish a decisive 21-point buffer heading into the final term.
Challenged with their season on the line, Bairnsdale rallied strongly in the closing stages to hold on for a memorable win.
Oscar Baylis booted four goals and Kael Frith chipped in with three to spearhead the attack, setting up a do-or-die clash against arch-rival Maffra at Leongatha this weekend.
Harry McGuinn, Frith, Baylis, Bill Prior, Chidi Otuonye and Albie Clarke were all pivotal in securing the victory.
