Joeys and Riverview will reignite one of schoolboy rugby’s biggest rivalries for the first time this season on Saturday afternoon. 

In the first of two scheduled fixtures this season, competition leader’s Joeys face third-placed Riverview, with little splitting the two sides so far in this year’s tight GPS title race. 

“It’s a really tight competition,” Joeys first XV coach Greg Thompson told Rugby News. 

“There haven’t been any easy matches so far and most games have been going right down to the wire and have been decided by a point here or two points there. 

“It’s still really tight and the competition could go a numbers different ways at this stage.”

Joeys started their 2024 campaign with strong wins over Newington and Scots, but were beaten by an impressive Kings’ side in round three, then held on to claim a two-point win over Shore last Thursday. 

“We’re playing really well as a team this year and the guys are working really hard for each other,” Thompson explained. 

“We’re not relying on individuals, it’s a team effort and the last period of the Shore game showed that. The guys defended really well and fought hard to get that result. 

“I’ve heard people say that we didn’t play well against Kings but I don’t think that’s correct. We played well but we were just beaten by a better side on the day and that’s what happens when the competition is as tight as it is this year.”

Riverview won both fixtures last year, beating Joeys 26-21 in round four and 35-24 in round nine. 

But Thompson said he was confident his side, led by impressive backrowers Justice Taumoepeau, Johannes Logan and Lucas Arnautovic, could turn the tables on their rivals in what he expected to be another tight battle on Saturday. 

“It’s always a big day and they are games that the boys really look forward to. 

“Traditionally, they are tight games that usually aren’t decided until close to the 70th minute and they are always good games to watch so I think we can expect more of the same from that perspective. 

“We just need to make sure we stay focussed on playing our game, execute our roles in attack and defence and work hard for each other.”

While wet weather has hindered play throughout the opening month of the season, Thompson said he’ll be telling his players to play what is in front of them, regardless of the conditions at Hunters Hill on Saturday. 

“It’s the beauty of schoolboy rugby. When it’s wet, you can tell boys to exit but sometimes they want to run the ball. 

“Other times when we have advantage and you want them to attack, they want to kick. Schoolboy rugby is unpredictable and that’s what makes it so enjoyable to watch. 

“There’s a bit or rain predicted for Saturday but the fields are in really good condition at the moment so hopefully they hold up well and we can get some good rugby played. 

“If it does get really wet though, then we’ll just need to role up our sleeves and play some tough, hard rugby.”

In the rounds other matches, second placed Kings host fourth placed Newington and Scots face Shore.