Queensland Cup
- Week 1 -Semi Finals

The 2003 Queensland Cup finals series promises to be one of the most open on record with all five sides a genuine chance of claiming the title.

Minor premiers, Burleigh Bears have the weekend off and they will play next Saturday at Pizzey Park, Miami in the match of the round. The Bears opponents will be the winners of this Sunday?s clash at Dolphin Oval between teams two and three, Redcliffe Dolphins and Ipswich Jets. Redcliffe are the defending premiers and Ipswich was the team they beat convincingly in last year?s grand final at Dolphin Oval. The Jets have problems winning at Dolphin and they will be underdogs this weekend although it took a field goal in extra time for Redcliffe to overcome Ipswich 17-16 in the 2002 major semi-final clash. The elimination final between Wynnum Seagulls and Tweed Heads Seagulls kicks off the weekend and the finals campaign. The two Seagulls have had one win each in the premiership this year and this match at Kougari Oval on Saturday afternoon promises to be close and tough with ABC Television viewers assured a feast of attacking football. There is no second chance for the loser and the winner will play the loser of the Redcliffe ? Ipswich match next weekend. Details of next weekend?s matches will be published in the sports section of The Courier-Mail on Monday. Brisbane?s Wavell High School and Abergowrie College from outside Ingham in North Queensland will play the curtain-raiser to the Wynnum-Tweed clash. This will be the state final of the Arrive Alive Cup for secondary schools with the winner to advance to the national semi-finals where they will play a NSW school. Wavell are the defending champions and they progressed to the state final by defeating 2001 champions, Palm Beach Currumbin. Abergowrie defeated Townsville school, St Ignatius Park in the North Queensland final. Former students of Abergowrie include Test winger, Lionel Williamson and Queensland State of Origin back, Matt Bowen. At Dolphin Oval on Sunday the curtain-raisers will be Mixwell Cup and Mixwell Challenge elimination finals. In the Colts Burleigh play Wynnum while in A grade Burleigh tackle Norths Devils. It has been a great achievement by Burleigh to get teams into the finals in all three grades particularly as the club has had a long injury list and many of the Colts players have had heavy commitments at schoolboy level. Next Friday night at Suncorp Stadium the final of the ARL Foundation Cup for Queensland Primary Schools will be a curtain-raiser to the Broncos ? St George Illawarra NRL clash.

Do yourself a favour and get out to the game and cheer on these kids. Full details of the Cup can be found on arlfoundation.com.au