The game got underway in perfect football conditions with both teams playing a physical game making kicks hard to come by.

Ex-Hawthorn and Port Adelaide Magpies player Harry Miller looked dangerous early, but all his good work was undone by Whyalla's Kane Grund, who took three strong grabs on the last line of defence.

As the game settled so did Whyalla with midfielders Leigh Symonds and captain Greg Fiebig starting to get their hands on the ball and it was the latter who pushed forward to post the first major of the game and give Whyalla a perfect start.

Whyalla were now up and running and with half forward Luke Seymour finding space he put Whyalla 12 points in front with a goal from a set shot 25 metres out.

Lincoln needed a spark and that came in the form of one Harry Miller who linked up with Clayton Millard, resulting in a Sunny Singh goal.

Lincoln then squandered some easy goal scoring opportunities and went in at quarter time four points down.

The first quarter was a classic one-on-one contest and the winner was going to be decided by whoever could withstand this for the whole game.

Whyalla got the perfect start through live wire half forward Geoff Appleton, who snapped off the pack in the pocket and was starting to look like a dangerous forward.

It was he who again had a hand in the next goal to Brad Henderson and all of a sudden Whyalla had a 16-point lead.

Whyalla's midfield of McIntosh and co. were on top and Lincoln were looking to Harry Miller for a lift.

He didn't let them down as he linked up with tough half back Hayden McKinley to set up Ky Miller for the answering goal, and at half time Whyalla were holding a slim seven-point lead.

If the first half was anything to go by the second promised to be a cracker, and it was Port Lincoln who started the better with none other than Harry Miller showing his class in the middle as he set up Ross Campbell for a goal and the scores were level.

Whyalla needed a quick answer and it was Symons, who wasn't to be out done by Miller, who stepped up as he won numerous hard balls, bringing his team-mates into play, but his forward line couldn't capitalise.

They needed someone to stand up and not let all his good work go to waste and that came in the form of vice captain Ryan Baker, who had been well held, as he kicked two long, team lifting goals and Whyalla again had a two-goal lead.