THE Panorama Playtpi under 15s showed exactly what it means to tackle like girl on Saturday as a brilliant defensive performance helped them to a 24-10 win over the Wiradjuri Goannas in the final round of the Western Women's Rugby League competition.
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Through the 50-minute contest at Carrington Park the Platypi pulled off some brutal hits - driving their opponents backwards and jolting the ball lose numerous times - to cement second spot on the ladder.
Centre Kate Fallon got through a mountain of work in defence, while forwards Lillee Bullock, Lauren Roels and Rhiani Rozga helped the Platypi assert their authority through the centre of the park from the opening set.
That the win came against the Goannas outfit which defeated them in last season's semi-final made the result even sweeter.
"The communication was over the top today, they moved up well, they attacked well and stuck to the game plan, just holding that ball and driving up the middle. That's all we needed to do," coach Michael Roels said.
"The way the girls worked in the middle there, Lauren and Kate and Rhi, they were all great. Then we had the likes of Rani [Johnson] who was just destroying it from hooker all game, she was great.
"Shanese [Lane Bergen] was great up the sideline with Tia [Monks], Charlie [Fox] in her role as fullback has been fantastic - I could mention everyone."
Looking to head into the finals on the back of three consecutive wins, the Platypi made an impressive start to the contest.
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A big hit from Bullock forced a turnover to put her side into attack then, following a penalty tap, the ball was spread wide to fullback Fox who showed her strength in grounding the ball despite the attention of multiple Goannas defenders.
Five minutes later the Platypi were in again, this time via a strong charge from Rozga, and when Fallon converted it took the lead to 10-0.
Though the Goannas hit back via Makaah Darcy, with less than a minute remaining in the first half Molly Dowling crossed to restore the Platypi's 10-point buffer at 14-4.
It was a margin which grew five minutes after play resumed as prop Sarah Battersby chased through after Lane Bergen kicked, the ball bouncing up into her arms and she dived over between the sticks.
Though the Goannas won the ball back via a short kick-off and found themselves in a good attacking position, again the Platypi rallied in defence and forced their rivals into touch.
With 15 minutes to go Lane Bergen once again combined with Battersby for a try, this time a nice short-ball finding the forward on an angled run. That pushed the score out to 24-4.
While Goannas winger Lilly Dayes produced a nice piece of individual brilliance as she broke away down the right flank and ran around to score, in the nine minutes which remained the Platypi lifted. Fallon made multiple tackles each set as she willed on her team-mates to close out the match.
