Results wise, Riverview and Scots 2024 GPS seasons couldn’t have gone more differently so far this year.

Neither side has played their best rugby across a wet opening fortnight of the first XV season, but Riverview are undefeated and equal first on the competition ladder, while Scots sit fifth after a draw and a loss.

“We’re still building in terms of our performances but we’re happy to have taken points from our opening two matches,” Saint Ignatius coach Toby L’Estrange told Rugby News.

“We’ve got a young group so more important than the points, is the belief that they’ve gained in themselves and each other.”

Riverview scored and converted a try after the full time bell to beat Shore 17-15 in the opening round of the season, then held on to beat Newington 14-7 in a gritty match at home last weekend.

With a number of players making their first XV debuts in the opening rounds, L’Estrange was full of praise for his side’s attitude and determination so far this season.

“We had a few injuries in the weeks leading into round one and that presented opportunities for individuals to step in and show what pulling on the jersey meant to them,” he said.

“For us at this stage, we’ve just got to keep showing the same desperation to improve regardless of what has happened in previous weeks.

“We know that the start that we’ve had won’t count for anything if we take our focus off what is in front of us.”

With more wet weather forecast across Sydney this weekend, L’Estrange said his side has focussed on improving their red-zone efficiency at training during the week.

“Last week’s game against Newington shone the light on some areas of our attack we can improve when we’re close to our opposition’s line,” L’Estrange said.

“We held the ball for long periods of time deep in Newington’s territory and on occasions didn’t come away with anything to show for it. 

“That’s our responsibility as coaches to make sure the players are better prepared during the week so that they can weigh things up and make decisions on the run during a game.

“Aside from that, we’ve just got to keep chipping away with our cohesion and connection in attack so that we can move teams around and attack where the space is.”

Scots were spoken about as “pre-season favourites” by many in recent months, but have been met by two good sides in Kings and Joeys in the opening two rounds.

With a number of players returning from last season and featuring in representative squads over the summer, L’Estrange knows how dangerous an in-form side at Bellevue Hill could be.

“Scots have a team that is full of talent and we know that they’ve got a lot of players returning from last year as well.

“They’ll be frustrated with their performance against Joeys last week and we know that they’ll be desperate to turn it around.

“They’ve got strength in their backrow in particular, and plenty of athletic ability in their backline. We’re expecting some positional changes in their side but that doesn’t take away from the individual threats that they pose.

“To shut down those individuals, we’ll need to work together in the areas of the game that don’t require any talent and if we can do that again on Saturday, we’ll be right in the match.”

In other round three matches, Kings host Joeys and Newington travel to play Shore.