The Sydney Roosters were unable to overcome the Newcastle Knights in Round 8 of the NRLW competition, falling 20-4 in a Saturday afternoon arm-wrestle at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Corban Baxter claimed the Roosters only try after receiving a brilliant offload from Olivia Kernick, but the Tricolours failed to nullify Knights fullback Tamika Upton, who carried the hosts to victory with a double.

The Roosters rallied in defence early to keep the Knights behind their 40-metre line  for their opening two sets.

Applying the pressure in attack from strong field position, the Tricolours looked to strike first with a right edge play, but an off-target pass handed possession back to the hosts.

Hooker Keeley Davis produced a brilliant try-saving tackle on Newcastle prop Caitlan Johnston to force an error on her run to the try-line as the hosts attempted to execute a crash play under the posts.

Another inspiring individual effort from Olivia Kernick saw the back-rower drive Knights winger Jasmin Strange towards her own goal-line with a hard-hitting tackle only a couple of minutes later.

The Tricolours conceded a penalty for a shoulder charge on Jesse Southwell, affording the hosts more possession within close range.

Keilee Joseph denied the Knights on back-to-back occasions with impressive one-on-one tackles but the period of sustained pressure was too much for the Tricolours.

Slick work with the ball by Tamika Upton resulted in first points for the Knights, as the clever fullback produced a chip and chase to split the Roosters defence before regathering possession and crashing down in-goal. Jesse Southwell was unable to convert the try, leaving the score a 4-0.

An error from Southwell followed by an illegal strip attempt by Tayla Predebon laid the platform for the Roosters to hit back before the break.

Jocelyn Kelleher delivered Kernick a bullet pass before the Jillaroos representative found Corban Baxter with a brilliant offload. As strong as ever, the vice-captain wrestled the ball down in the in-goal to level the scores, but Kelleher’s conversion waved away on the siren.