AFTER building up last weekend as the “weekend of upsets”, the top three Rugby Gold Coast firstgrade clubs stood strong and repelled the lower-placed teams in all three matches.

The best chance was fourth-placed Helensvale, who were in the hunt for the full 80 minutes, going down by just 25-13 to second-placed Eagles.

In the other matches, Surfers Paradise continued their unbeaten run by easily accounting for Griffith Uni-Colleges 45-8 and Palm Beach-Currumbin continued to improve, defeating Nerang 31-0.

Palm Beach's win came off the back of another strong performance from a forward pack that seems to strike a perfect balance between youth and experience each week.

With some of the younger players showing their skills with some expansive plays, and the old heads adding the muscle, this developing forward pack was able to trump Nerang in what were very boggy conditions.

In the end, the dominant display in the tight paved the way for an electric backs display, with all points scored through the backline, including a double to 21-year-old fly-half Sean Fernandez.

The minnows

THIS week we will see exactly who is and isn't in the hunt for the premiership.

Only six rounds in and already there is a gap developing between the top four and the rest of the competition.

If Colleges and Nerang don't string some wins together soon, both teams will be out of finals contention.

Both teams have yet to win this season, suffering six losses on the trot.

They go up against each other this weekend in a match that will mean one of them finally gets to sing the club song.

Nerang will host Colleges at Glennon Park, with Colts and 3rd Grade at 12.30pm, 2nd Grade at 1.50pm and 1st Grade at 3.15pm.

The three grades play at the same times at all venues.

The favourites

LAST year's grand final re-match, in which Eagles will host Surfers Paradise at James Overell Park, Southport, is a match that could give an early sign of the 2011 minor premier.

Both teams are unbeaten, with Surfers sitting just above Eagles thanks to bonus points collected in some big wins against the minnows.

Both teams are an exciting mix of some of the Gold Coast's best players and this game will definitely be a cracker.

In the final first-grade match of the round, Palm Beach-Currumbin host Bond Pirates at Bienvenue Drive, Currumbin Waters.

Palm Beach are looking to extend their winning run to four matches while Bond, who are fresh after last week's bye, will jump into fourth place and a finals spot with a win.

The teams are evenly matched across the park, and a dry pitch will encourage running rugby while rain will give the Palm Beach pack the edge.

Baa Baas

Coolangatta-Tweed takes on Helensvale this Saturday at Goodwin Park, Coolangatta.

After the Baa Baas' match was rained out last weekend they'll be looking to continue their winning streak against a battered and bruised Helensvale team, which was knocked around by the Eagles on Saturday.

Coolangatta is a team on the rise and always gets a big crowd down to the ground with great hospitality and plenty of top rugby.

In second grade, this is the match of the round with a win to Coolangatta thrusting it them into the finals contention.

The game kicks off at 1.50pm.