Bairnsdale has won the Gippsland League under 16 grand final, defeating Sale by 27 points in a mouth-watering match of football at Morwell Recreation Reserve on Saturday.

On a day where Leongatha claimed its first back-to-back senior Gippsland League flags with victory over Maffra, the under 16 Redlegs were on fire early and withstood a third quarter charge from the Magpies before claiming the first football premiership of the day.

While the under 18 footballers and 15 and under netballers suffered grand final defeats at the hands of Traralgon and Sal respectively, Bairnsdale’s under 16s showed their mettle in fighting back from a previous finals defeat at the hands of the Magpies.

Bairnsdale was challenged throughout the match, but David Dunkley’s well-drilled Redlegs stood up when it mattered most, booting three goals to one in the last quarter to run out deserved winners.

Its defence looked unbreakable at times and its midfield hunted the footy in waves.

When Bairnsdale moved forward, although inaccurate, it made Sale pay for dropped marks and turnovers.

Bairnsdale’s pressure was intense early in the first quarter, creating its first score with a snap from Lachlan Huggins, which hit the post in the third minute.

The Redlegs had a chance just seconds later when a quick-thinking Tyran Rees, who would earn the best afield medal with four goals from the midfield, snapped from 30 metres out, but also failed to find the big sticks.

Huggins found himself in the action just two minutes later after snapping from 40m out to give the Redlegs an eight-point lead with their first goal at the seven-minute mark.

The Magpies had yet to get the ball inside their attacking 50.

Bairnsdale was pressing hard and had the chance to goal again after Flynn Davis weaved through heavy traffic but pushed the ball through for a behind.

With Bairnsdale on top early the Magpies needed a goal and that is exactly what they got when Cooper Whitehill received a push in the back free in the 11th minute.

Despite Bairnsdale’s dominance this goal put Sale only four points behind.

However, the Redlegs got the quick reply with Reece Carstairs slipping out the back of a pack and running into an open goal in the 14th minute.

Once again Rees had another scoring opportunity after receiving a free kick from a high tackle 15m out on a slight angle, but he failed to make Sale pay.

A minute later he repaid the side after a quick snap in front of goal gave his side a 17-point lead at quarter time.

The Redlegs’ defensive structure proved too strong for the Magpies and were looking the better side leading into the second quarter.

Rees was exceptional through the midfield and forward half of the ground while Lewis Hoffman was standing tall in a defensive role.

Byron Vickery had the first opportunity to score for the Redlegs in the second term and didn’t disappoint, goaling from 35m out in the second minute.

The pressure from both sides lifted as the Magpies realised their premiership dreams were slipping, however the Redlegs matched them, keeping its lead at 22 points.

A clean kick in by Sale’s Malakai Nico set up a scoring opportunity in the seventh minute, but Bairnsdale’s back six stood tall to rush a behind.

The Magpies were throwing everything at Bairnsdale but the Redlegs’ structure through their defensive half of the ground was holding strong.

Randall Stewart was superb across half back, sinking his fist into a number of spoils and creating drive out of the backline.

Despite Sale controlling play for the majority of the quarter, Bairnsdale had a 22-point lead at the main break.

If Sale was going to get back into the contest it needed to win the ball at the coalface as Bairnsdale’s midfield was hungrier for the footy. It was only the Redlegs’ inaccuracy that had kept Sale in the game.

Bairnsdale scored the opening goal of the third quarter after going coast-to-coast with run and carry and clean ball use which allowed Vickery to kick his second on the goal line.

A major in the goalsquare from Mason Benson pegged a goal back for Sale in the fourth minute.

The Magpies now had the momentum and were coming hard at Bairnsdale, however a quick kick forward by Hoffman fell in the hands of Vickery who didn’t disappoint, pushing his side’s lead out to 27 points at the 12-minute mark.

The Magpies than came fighting back, as Blake Safstrom scored back-to-back goals to bring Bairnsdale’s lead back to 15.

The Magpies gained the momentum back and the Redlegs struggled to contain them.

Sale went forward again and Mason Hawkins goaled in heavy congestion in the goalsquare.

The Redlegs’ lead had been trimmed to nine points at three quarter time – the Magpies were coming.

Sale got the first clearance of the fourth term and booted the ball inside 50, but Bairnsdale’s back six stood strong.

Rees provided a crucial captain’s goal on the run from 30m out just two minutes into the quarter as Bairnsdale steadied.

With Bairnsdale getting a goal, Sale did not need to concede the next clearance, however Stewart won it and found Vickery lace out, but he failed to goal, providing a sigh of relief for the Magpies.

At the six minute-mark Rees stepped up again with a snapping left foot goal, pushing his side’s lead out to 22 points.

Sale’s Samuel Smith goaled soon after in the goalsquare to keep his side in the game, however Tom Betts marked and kicked the ball to the top of the goalsquare soon after where Rees took a strong contested mark.

He didn’t disappoint and goaled, sinking Sale’s premiership aspirations.

Rees was best on ground for the Redlegs through the midfield up forward and his four-goal haul certainly helped determine the match.

Byron Vickery finished with three goals, Toby Jerkins battled hard against a tough opponent in the ruck and Stewart was a major ball winner.

PICTURED: Harry Willmot flies in a contest, showing the desperation of a quality Bairnsdale under 16 team, as his side secured the Gippsland League premiership with a stunning 27-point victory over Sale at Morwell on Saturday. While it was a victorious day for the under 16 Redlegs, the under 18 footballers and 15 and under netballers went down in the grand finals.