For Newcastle Rowing Club members Jonathan Clifford and Evan Gresham, that rivalry takes place on the water.

The pair, both 17, have been rowing together since they were 14 and have become best mates.

It happened by chance.

The two Merewether High School students joined the rowing club through a mutual friend.

They formed a doubles team last season and have been unstoppable, winning gold in the open doubles and silver in the pairs at the Combined High Schools rowing championships in May.

However, when the double scull boat is hung up to dry, Jonathan and Evan go head-to-head in the singles event.

Earlier this month the duo won the under-19 men's double scull at the 16th annual Central District Rowing Sprint Championships on Throsby Creek, Carrington.

They then turned around and competed against each other in the under-19 men's single scull.

In the end, it was Evan who nosed out Jonathan.

Evan said despite their competitiveness, he and Jonathan could just as easily work as a team.

At the same regatta they rowed in the mixed four team with masters rowers Melissa Moore and Phoebe Sanders and won the Newcastle Rowing Club Gift relay team - breaking the club's eight-year drought.

Evan and Jonathan's focus has now shifted to the state sprint championships in December and the Combined High Schools rowing championships in March on the Manning River for the last time before they graduate.