The South Sydney Rabbitohs women went down to a last minute penalty at Leichhardt Oval this afternoon losing 14-12 to the Mount Pritchard Mounties in the Harvey Norman NSW Women's Premiership.
With seconds to go and the scores all locked up Mounties were rewarded a penalty right in front of the sticks to send themselves through to the Grand Final in two weeks time.
The start of the match was fast and fierce with Mounties flying out of the blocks to score first through Simaima Taufa, who scored next to the posts after just 2 minutes.
Janelle Williams added the extras to put Mounties up 6-0.
The match would continue in arm wrestle fashion with the Rabbitohs fighting to gain control.
They would eventually find themselves on the scoreboard through a similar play to their opponents, with barnstorming backrower Chloe Caldwell barging over from close range.
Maddie Studdon would lock the scores up at 6-6 all with a successful conversion on the 16th minute.
Throughout the match, it was easy to see why these two sides finished first and second respectively, with neither side giving an inch.
However, it would the be the Red and Green that would be the next to take the lead, working their way up field before hooker Rebecca Riley, burrowed over for a four-pointer.
Again Studdon was successful with the boot to give the Rabbitohs a 12-6 lead at half-time.
The second half started the exact same way the first did with big hit-ups and even stronger tackles.
No side could break the other down and both missed chances to take the ascendancy.
However, the Rabbitohs women began to get frustrated and were dealt a big blow when try scorer Caldwell was sent to the bin for back-to-back dangerous tackles.
Rabbitohs held on valiantly as Mounties peppered their line with wave after wave attack.
Unfortunately for the Red and Green though, the pressure in the end told, and Mounties went over under the posts through dummy-half Talia Lealaiauloto.
With the kick right in front, the scores were level with just 8 minutes remaining.
It was impossible to tell which way the match was going to go but in the end, it was the Red and Green who drew the short straw as three consecutive penalties allowed Mounties to steal the win, with the last resulting in the winning two points from in the front of the posts.
It's not all over for the Rabbitohs women who will get a second bite at the cherry against Cabramatta at Leichhardt Oval next Saturday.
