By Michael Atkinson

In every season, there comes a round which is defining for one or two teams, it could make or break their season. This weekend, round 12 in Premier Rugby shapes as a defining weekend for the whole competition. Here’s who plays who, and what it means for each club.

Sunnybank vs. University

We know University are cruising at the top. Unbeaten and rarely challenged. The Dragons, however, are sitting nicely in third and are coming off a bye and two strong wins. For the Students to win this game, it will mean they maintain their huge lead over the rest of the comp, and a loss will narrow it only slightly. Sunnybank, on the other hand, have plenty on the line. A win could see them jump in to second, if G.P.S. lose (we’ll get to that later), but a loss would see them just clinging to fourth (if other results go against them). The last time these two sides met, Uni produced the second half performance we’ve come to expect; piling on 49 unanswered second half points to win 59-8. So, the task for the Dragons is a massive one, but the rewards are just as big and the message it would send to the rest of the competition – even bigger.

Prediction: Uni by 10.

Wests vs. Easts

This is a mouth-watering clash. Wests have been in fourth for a number of weeks but a couple of recent losses have allowed the Tigers to edge closer. A loss this weekend will see them slip out of the top four, while a win could potentially move them to second, if Sunnybank and Jeeps suffer defeats. The Bulldogs will be hoping to continue their good form at home, where they’ve won three from four. The Tigers, while their season is not going to be dead if they lose, will know that the final six games become a big challenge if they go down this weekend. And a win will leap frog them over Wests into the top four.

Prediction: Wests by 5.

Souths vs. Norths

With these teams on 18 and 14 points respectively, this game could potentially mark the end of the line for the loser. The Eagles shocked everyone, not the least the Gallopers, with a come from behind win over G.P.S. last weekend. Their belief to come back from 26-10 down at half time was impressive and they will need plenty of belief again this weekend against a resurgent Souths outfit. The Magpies are on the up, having beaten Wests and Easts in the past few weeks and will be looking for win number three in front of their parochial fans at ‘The Nest’. Season 2017 is virtually on the line; a massive clash.

Prediction: Norths to make it two from two of the Magpies, this time by 3 points.

G.P.S. vs. Brothers

Queensland Premier Rugby’s ‘Match of the Round’ has a great deal of expectation around it and it won’t disappoint. Brothers are coming off a narrow loss to Uni last weekend while G.P.S are staring down the barrel of a third-straight loss. The Gallopers can get their season back on track with a win on their Old Boys Day, and it could give them breathing space on the ladder if Sunnybank and Wests suffer losses. A defeat for Jeeps, however, could see them slip from second to out of the top four in a fortnight, as they have the bye next round. Brothers know Jeeps are vulnerable and will be buoyed by their recent performance against Uni as well as their one-point win over the Gallopers back in round seven.

Prediction: Jeeps to rise to the occasion, by 7.

Bond University, sitting in 9^th place on the ladder, have the bye.