ARANA (5th) v REDCLIFFE (2nd): Sunday May 2 12.30pm at Dawson Pde
PREMIERSHIP ODDS: Arana: 4/1 ($5.00) out from 3/1 ($4.00); Redcliffe: Steady at 4/1 ($5.00)
Last Encounter: 2003 Knockout Semi: Arana 20 def Redcliffe 10
Head to Head 2001/3: Redcliffe 6 Arana 3
Last 3 Games: Arana: Easts L 14-21; Springwood L 18-20; Norths L 8-22
Redcliffe: Souths W 44-4; Easts W 34-6; Springwood W 16-12Arana have really hit the wall, losing 3 in a row, whilst Redcliffe, after winning three on the trot, can wrap up a Chairman's trophy berth with a win in this game. Of the four losses Arana have suffered at home in the last 3 years, Redcliffe have inflicted 2 of them, and the Dolphins will also be seeking revenge as it was Arana who knocked them out of last year's finals race. Hard to see Arana bouncing back in this one with so much at stake for the visitors. Arana should have plenty of vocal support from the winner of the Centenary/Springwood game, who will no doubt rush over from the Centenary Highway reserve!!
"The Computer" tips Redcliffe by 12.
LOGAN BROS (6th) v EASTS (7th): Friday Apr 30 7.30pm at Civic Park
PREMIERSHIP ODDS: Logan Bros: Steady at 3/1 ($4.00); Easts: Steady at 20/1 ($21.00)
Last Encounter: 2003 Round 12: Logan Bros 16 def Easts 6
Head to Head 2001/3: Logan Bros 5 Easts 0
Last 3 Games: Logan Bros: Springwood L 22-24; Norths W 26-23; Centenary D 20-20
Easts: Arana W 21-14; Redcliffe L 4-36; Souths W 32-6Logan Bros were desperately unlucky to go down to Springwood last weekend and have shown they are a class side, having been the only team to lower North's colours so far. Easts will be keen to prove their last start win against Arana wasn't just a flash in the pan and will be buoyed by the fact they really stretched Logan in their Round 12 encounter last year. Easts have struggled at Civic Park however, inclusing in a trial at the start of this year, and it is hard to seeing them hold the big Logan Bros side, in what should be a very physical encounter.
"The Computer" tips Logan Bros by 16.
CENTENARY (4th) v SPRINGWOOD (3rd): Sunday May 2 11.00am at Cent Highway Res.
PREMIERSHIP ODDS: Centenary: Steady at 4/1 ($5.00); Springwood: 3/1 ($4.00) in from 7/2 ($4.50)
Last Encounter: 2003 Round 1: Redlands 40 def Centenary 12
Head to Head 2001/3: Redlands 3 Centenary 1
Last 3 Games: Centenary: Norths L 16-18; Souths W 34-14; Logan Bros D 20-20
Springwood: Logan Bros W 24-22; Arana W 20-18; Redcliffe L 12-16Both these teams will be striving for a win, then hoping for either Norths or Redcliffe to stumble in their matches later in the afternoon, for them to claim a shot at the Chairman's Trophy. Centenary went down by 2 points to competition leaders Norths last week, whilst Springwood have won both their previous matches by a similar margin. It is well over a year since the teams met as Centenary forfeited their last scheduled match and their previous match was Round 1 last year. Hard to see anything but a close match with the home ground advantage perhaps enough to tip the scales in Centenary's favour.
"The Computer" tips Centenary by 2.
SOUTHS (8th) v NORTHS (1st): Sunday May 2 12.15pm at Brandon Park
PREMIERSHIP ODDS: Souths: Steady at 33/1 ($34.00); Norths: 3/1 ($4.00) in from 7/2 ($4.50)
Last Encounter: 2003 Round 17: Souths 32 def Norths 10
Head to Head 2001/3: Souths 2 Norths 0
Last 3 Games: Souths: Redcliffe L 4-44; Centenary L 14-34; Easts L 6-32
Norths: Centenary W 18-16; Logan Bros L 23-26; Arana W 22-8
Norths only need a point to ensure a Chairman's Trophy berth and it is hard to see them slipping up in this game, even though they are travelling to Brandon Park, and they are yet to record a win over Souths. The Magpies are definitely a much better side at home and have been known to cause an upset, notably their win over Logan Bros last year which knocked the Brethren out of the Chairman's Trophy. A repeat seems very unlikely this year given the good form of the Devils.
"The Computer" tips Norths by 18.
