Bairnsdale suffered a debilitating loss to Drouin on the road in round 11 of Gippsland League football, and its chances of playing finals have deteriorated considerably.
The Redlegs made the trek down the highway confident after a win and two honourable losses in their past three outings, but it wasn’t to be.
After an even first half it was the Hawks who finished better, dominating possessions, clearances and inside 50s, their effectiveness by both hand and foot highlighting their ability to find a marking target inside the forward arc.
The Hawks had reason to celebrate, recording their first win for the season and first at their home ground in 105 weeks.
Drouin’s inaccuracy in front of goal was the only downside to their performance, the winning margin of 27 points flattering the disappointing Redlegs.
IMAGE: Bairnsdale senior football vice captain John Gooch kicked a goal in his club’s disappointing loss to Drouin on Saturday. (PS)