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Gutsy effort against Tigers not enough for Harvey Norman Women's Premiership side

The South Sydney Rabbitohs Harvey Norman Women's Premiership side have gone down 18-10 against the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium.

It was an undesired start for the Red and Green, with a penalty on their first set leading to a try for the Tigers after just two minutes.

After their first mistake, the Red and Green grew with each play of the match, forcing a number of errors to give them possession. A half-break from centre Tayla Pilley and some quick thinking from halfback Akira Kelly put the Tigers on the back foot, giving the Rabbitohs a shift in momentum.

The left side of the field continued to give the Rabbitohs their strike power, with fullback Sharon McGrady continually questioning the Tigers' defence with a number of weaving runs and half-breaks.

While McGrady's heroics wouldn't reap the side any immediate rewards, a forced error just twenty metres from their opponents' line gave the side their first opportunity to score. 

The right side then finished off what the left had started, with young winger Nikki Baird pouncing on a dropped Lavina O'Mealey bomb. With the conversion unsuccessful, the scores remained at 4-all with just over a quarter of the match complete. 

Despite the dry track, errors were plentiful for both sides throughout the first half, with neither side able to gain any ascendency, with a powerful defensive set on the Rabbitohs' line prevented Wests from scoring again, with centre Emma Gillogly and front rower Moniqca Mo'Ale showing desperation in defence. 

Baird's efforts in defence didn't go unnoticed either, with a brave dive to regather an attacking grubber kick showing her intent to not only score tries but save them too.

With the clock ticking down, the Rabbitohs continued to work as a unit, with strong runs from winger Emily Young and McGrady putting the side on the front foot, and a well-timed offload from Mo'Ale sending Kelly downfield, but dropped ball on the next set ended it there for the first half.

Another early forced error saw the Rabbitohs with a prime opportunity to extend their lead, which saw Karri Doyle cross over the line, only for the ball to be lost during the grounding.

But two-quick fire tries in the space of three minutes would see the Tigers not only gain the ascendency but a ten-point lead with just under fifteen minutes to go.

And the Tigers would go in again after a Rabbitohs error gave them possession 20 metres from the line, with a strong defensive set from the Cardinal and Myrtle ending in a try for their opponents after a shift of play opened up space on last tackle. 

A bone-rattling tackle from Candice Clay looked to inspire the side late in the contest, with a late try to Doyle not enough to secure victory in a hard-fought contest. 

 

Wests Tigers 18 (Jessie Wharepouri, Rachel Simpson, Charmayne Nathan, Simone Karpani tries; Emily Curtain goal) 

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South Sydney Rabbitohs 10 (Nikki Baird, Karri Doyle tries; Akira Kelly goal)

 

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