Kaikorai Under 12 Demons utility back Rachael Pitts (12) said the 54th annual Taieri sevens tournament in Mosgiel yesterday was the fifth consecutive tournament she had tackled.
However, the Balmacewen Intermediate pupil scored more tries in her first tournament than she did at Peter Johnstone Park yesterday.
''At the start the boys really didn't want to tackle me because I was a girl but now they are all right, because you get to know people through the years and they are not scared of me anymore.''
The Demons had four girls in the squad, she said.
In a pool match yesterday, two boys stopped her strong run with desperate cover defence and tackled her across the touch line.
Rachael got up, returned to her defensive line and rubbed her rib cage, ready to return the favour.
A good tackling technique was having your shoulder above the attacker's knees and wrapping your arms around their legs, she said.
''You don't have to push, you just have to hold.''
She would ''definitely'' return for more rugby next year.
The best part of rugby was the friendships made.
''And it's fun to get muddy.''
About 1000 players aged from 6 to 13 , in about 90 teams from across Otago and Southland took part in the tournament yesterday.
