THE respective coaches of St Joseph College’s and local rivals, West Suffolk College, have predicted a cracking game of rugby when the two sides clash in the Daily Mail RBS Cup.

The coach of the Bury St Edmunds-based college has cranked up tomorrow night’s mouthwatering local derby with St Joseph’s College by claiming the Ipswich side are beatable.

St Joseph’s are gearing themselves up for a lengthy raid on the Daily Mail RBS Cup after winning last month’s National Schools Rugby Festival for the first time in 15 years.

Their director of sport, Mark Patterson, admitted victory in the prestigious competition had made St Joseph’s a notable scalp from here on in.

And West Suffolk’s rugby coach Nigel Brown believes his boys are primed to cause a shock in the regional fourth round of the national cup.

Brown said: “Every now and then, a school or a college has a year where they are absolutely firing and our the best around.

“St Joseph’s are having that at the moment but if they play their game and we play our’s, it is going to be a very close match. No matter what, it is going to be a cracking game to watch.”

Brown revealed that he would be adapting his side’s game to meet the challenge posed by one of the favourites for the whole competition.

But Patterson believes the wet and windy conditions could significantly close any gap between the two local rivals.

Patterson said: “We know what type of game we will get and I am confident and optimistic my players will meet the challenge.”

St Joseph’s are expected to be without South African Jaco Nel and flanker Shaq Meyers who continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Kick off for tomorrow night’s match, which will be held under the lights at Stowmarket, is 6.30pm.