TOO good - that is how Panorama Platypi opens coach Kevin Grimshaw summed up the performance of the Wiradjuri Goannas in their Western Women's Rugby League match on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Goannas ran out 38-4 winners at Dubbo's Apex Oval in a match that saw Bec Smyth continue her strong form as she crossed for three tries.
Grimshaw, who was not aware Smyth had previously played rugby union for Australia, was impressed by her efforts in the second row and the Goannas side as a whole.
"I went spoke to her [Smyth] after the game and said 'Too good' and asked her if she had played much league," Grimshaw said.
"She said that's she'd only played league of a couple of years and I was thinking 'Oh crap' but then she told me she played rugby. She's a very good player.
"They were too good for us, they have got a very good side."
While the Playtpi, who joined the Goannas in qualifying for the finals, were unable to make it three wins in succession Grimshaw said it was not through lack of effort.
Claudia McLaren scored a nice try in the first half for the Platypi off a well-executed back line move to give the visitors some hope at 18-4.
But the Goannas controlled possession after the main break and while the Platypi tried hard in defence, they could not switch momentum.
"We didn't shirk our task. We held them well in the first half and in the second half I thought we might be able to put a bit of a dint in them, but we couldn't," Grimshaw said.
"It was 18-4 at half-time and I thought that wasn't bad because we hadn't had much footy, but they weren't giving us the footy either, they weren't giving us opportunities.
"They defended good and had a lot of second-phase play, they have a lot of good offloads in them that had us going backwards a bit. They dominated possession and we couldn't get a roll on against them, they were pretty professional I thought."
The Platypi will now be looking to upset the undefeated Orange Vipers in this Saturday's sudden-death semi-final while the Goannas face Woodbridge.
