All matches formed part of the club’s Good Sports Game Ready Round and Women’s Round as each side faced Shepparton Strikers at Echuca College.
The women’s side looked to bounce back from a first defeat last time out to Mooroopna, with the Strikers entering the clash off a win and a loss across their opening two matches.
The River Rats would return to the winners’ list in a close encounter, prevailing 2-1.
Makayla Pendlebury was named as best afield via the club’s Facebook page as the side maintained its position in second on the ladder.
Meanwhile, the men couldn’t match that result, going down 7-3 to the Strikers in an improved performance from the opening two rounds, despite the River Rats conceding seven goals for the third straight fixture.
The club handed Adam Thompson best afield honours and, while the men have a 0-3 record to start their season, they are not bottom of the ladder, as Goulburn Valley Grammar School has a worse goal difference.
The two junior fixtures took place earlier in the day, with the under-16s being on the end of another heavy loss, this time going down 10-0, while the under-13s secured their first win of the season in a 2-1 triumph.
None of the River Rats sides will be in action this weekend due to Hockey Victoria’s Junior Country Championships, with teams set to return for matches on May 23.
Elsewhere in hockey, the Echuca-Moama influenced Castlemaine outfit competing in Hockey Central Victoria continued its weekly improvement despite another loss, only narrowly being defeated 2-1 by Eaglehawk.
Given it is serving a bye for the next round on May 24, Castlemaine won’t return to action until a clash against Bendigo Senjuns on May 31.