Wests bundled Easts out for just 59 in the 39^th of their 80 overs. The Plovers are 7-170 in reply and in the driving seat to claim their second outright of the season and to snatch the competition lead and favouritism to take out the minor premiership from City United.

Norths are well on top of Kurri Weston after dismissing them for 111 and making 3/93 in reply at the close of play on day one.

Norths, Easts, and Kurri Weston went into the round equal on 40 points and holding third, fourth and fifth places respectively.

Barring a miracle the Griffins and Warriors will be a game behind Norths with one round to go and battling for the fourth and final spot in the finals.

City United were made to work very hard for their 226 on day one against Raymond Terrace with a lush outfield slowing scoring. Todd Francis top scored with 66 and Wayne Dunlop backed up his century last week with 59.

Terrace were 1/5 in their inning at the close of play.

At King Edward Park, Luke Kealey (5-26) picked up his second bag of five wickets for the season and Elliott Lewis grabbed 4-32 as Wests opening pair bowled unchanged for 19 overs each.

Plovers skipper Tom Irwin was 81 not out closing in on his third century of the season and his career. Riley Harrison was the other chief scorer with 39 and Justin Lantry made 28.

Easts skipper Jack Bennett said Saturday was his side's worst performance of the season and it was vital for them to put in a far better showing next week.

"We are still in a position to make the finals. We need to play well next week for our confidence and to undo some of the damage done to our quotient," Bennett said.

"We have Thornton in the last round which will be virtually a semi-final for us. Win and I think we should get through depending on games going to form and City beating Kurri Weston and Wests beating Raymond Terrace."

Norths skipper Lincoln Mills said he was wrapped with another fine performance by the attack backed up by some excellent fielding.

"We have 20 runs to secure a first innings win and we'll see where things go from there," Mills said.

"It was another excellent bowling performance from all the guys. They bowled great lines, bowled to plan and we backed them up in the field."

Mills said the round nine loss to City United had been a turning point for Norths.

"We talked after the game about the importance of sticking to our bowling plans, bowling tight and creating pressure," he said.

"Our form since has been no coincidence."

Norths defeated Easts in round 11, had a washed-out draw against Thornton and beat Raymond Terrace at Jack Collins Oval.

Norths bowlers strangled the opposition batsman for run in the two wins and repeated the winning formula against Kurri Weston with only skipper Tyler Power (34), opener Josh Tuckwell (11) and No.10 Jack Sylvester (18) reaching double figures.

All six Norths bowlers picked up a wicket with Mitch Field claiming 3-23 and Mills (2-14) and Hayden Callinan (2-12) picking up two wickets each.

"Mitch bowled a terrific spell, it was like he had turned the clock back three or four years when he was devastating opposition batting line-ups," Mill said.

"All of the bowlers have been stepping up at various times with wickets, and it's been the same with runs we haven't had to rely on the same one or two players to perform each week.

"It's been an even performance with all the team standing up when required.

"We are still viewing our assignment as we have to win our next two games to make semi-finals.

"The great thing is that we are taking really good form into the finals if we make it."

Tenambit Morpeth's attack continued to show plenty restricting Thornton to 177 at Thornton. The Bulls were 2/15 from nine overs and Thornton skipper Jake Moore said his bowlers were relished the more bowler-friendly conditions.

"There was enough in the pitch to create problems but you still have to bowl well to take advantage of that and all the Bulls bowlers created problems for us," Moore said.

"Even when you got a start batting was difficult and most were out for 15 to 20."

Peter Gabriel top scored with 43 and Moore made 30.