Queensland Cup - Round 19 -
Preview

With only four rounds of the 2003 Queensland Cup season to be conducted 6 teams remain in contention for a semi-final spot but arguably the ?form? team, Norths lies out of contention on 17 points. The Devils late season surge, after an injury plagued early part of the year, has produced six wins and a draw in 8 rounds. The three feature games of round 19 will be played on the Sunday with big crowds expected at all three venues as teams look to cement finals positions. Competition leaders, Ipswich will play Norths at Bishop Park with Norths keen to continue their giant killing frame of mind, most notably last weekend?s defeat of Burleigh Bears in the ABC TV Game. At Piggabeen, Tweed Heads Seagulls host the North Queensland Young Guns and this match could go either way even though the Young Guns are out of finals contention. Tweed on the other hand are in fifth spot, one clear of Toowoomba and desperate to keep their foot in the door for the finals which start on August 30. The Seagulls are coming off a good win over Easts at Langlands Park.

In the other Sunday match joint competition leaders, Wynnum Seagulls host Burleigh at Kougari Oval with Wynnum favoured to win this one after they beat the understrength Clydesdales last weekend at Suncorp Stadium. Burleigh (25) after last week?s loss to Norths, are in equal third place with Redcliffe. This was the Bears first defeat in the second half of the competition. The weekend kicks off with the ABC Television game between Easts and Toowoomba at Langlands Park with Toowoomba realising they may be able to sneak back into the five with a win here. Redcliffe travel to Rockhampton to play the Central Comets who should provide tough competition at Browne Park so the Dolphins are not taking the two points for granted. The Comets have put together some impressive displays in recent weeks after a disappointing start to 2003 and have vowed to keep their local supporters happy in the remaining matches. In the battle of the wooden spoon Souths Logan and Wests clash at Davies Park to complete the Saturday card. Souths have won two matches and Wests none, and the Magpies also have a superior for and against record and they should get home in this one. The Panthers however may see this game as their best opportunity to record a win and should lift accordingly.