The Rams were crippled by drop ball and were several times bundled into touch in their own half early in the tackle count, errors which gifted the Tigers' girls points during the Country Championship opener at Blayney's King George Oval.

In the corresponding game in 2019, Western produced arguably its best showing of the women's championship to date but after Tigers star Crystal Ryan opened the scoring in the 10^th minute the hosts were left to chase their tails.

The same clinical Rams we saw last season never showed.

Sullivan, fullback Heidi Regan and halves Alicia Earsman and Harriett Messner all showed glimpses, while Ebony Watson's punch off the bench was terrific and Molly Hoswell's two-try performance on the right flank was promising, but those efforts were too sporadic.

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Sullivan, a star with the Vipers in the Western Women's Rugby League competition, says mistakes at crucial points in the game - and far-from ideal positions on the field - proved costly for the Rams, who'll now hit the road to Wollongong with their campaign on the line.

"I feel like the girls all played well ... it was just little things like missed tackles, and taking those first few hit-ups without taking too many risks," Sullivan said.

"Those little things ... we didn't do those things well."

After conceding first points, the Rams hit back through Hoswell in the north-eastern corner, a diving effort after a wonderful Messner off-load producing Western's first points of the tournament.

The scores remained locked at 4-all at the break but a Western error after the resumption of play was all the invitation the Tigers needed, half Mandy Carlile showing great strength to score GSR's second try.

Hoswell had her second shortly after though, the Manildra star showing a clean pair of heels on route to a ripping four-pointer to draw the hosts to within two points.

And just as they appeared to be working into the game, Western let the visitors take back control.

They did that this time through the powerful Macie Carlile, her conversion then kicking the Tigers out to a 16-8 lead and despite a late try to Rams skipper Haylee Lepaio, the visitors were home.

Carlile's after-the-siren penalty goal sealing the 18-14 round one, upset win.

Sullivan said her side is capable of more.

"As a team we just need to get some more talk going," she said.