WITH the game of catch-up magnificently complete after Monday's dramatic victory, the Bulls are primed for the final charge.

When the last pair scampered the winning single in the gathering gloom, South North were finally back on level terms with beaten opponents Chester-le-Street after one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the league.

Just eight games ago the Bulls were 81 points adrift of the Cestrians in the table and virtually reconciled to the fact their greatest rivals were going to make it three titles in a row.

However, a run of victories for the Gosforth outfit was accompanied by a surprising lapse in form by Chester – after going a full year without defeat they have now lost three of the last five matches they have played.

It looks like the Durham Academy are going to have a crucial say in the final destination of the title as they are at Roseworth Terrace today and end their season with a trip to Ropery Lane next week.

The youngsters have been showing fine form, losing just once in their last nine outings – a run which has seen them move into the top half of the table.

Their long-standing injury list has cleared up, with Jonny Killeen (ankle) and Callum Harding (back) departing the treatment room to leave it empty for the first time this season.

With bowler Jamie Harrison, the lad who scared the wits out of Chester last season, having finally proved his fitness with a six-wicket haul on Monday – followed by wickets for Durham seconds in mid-week – both of the leading sides look as though they are in for a real test.

However, South North skipper John Graham is excited by the challenge.

He said: “All we can concentrate on is getting the basics right and the points will take care of themselves.

“We have two tough games left but we seem to have the momentum with us in the last few weeks and hopefully we can maintain our form.”

The Bulls are at full strength today and Chester are in the same boat for their home game against struggling South Shields.

Their visitors are missing Paul Muchall, Michael Dunn and Chris Dorothy and hand opportunities to youngster Nathan Watson, Adam Shaw and Sam Embleton.

At the opposite end of the table Gateshead Fell's abject batting performance on Monday, when they were dismissed for the lowest score in the league's history, summed up a disastrous season in which they have lost nine of the last ten matches they have played.

That run sees them certain to finish bottom despite the mathematics suggesting otherwise – at least until after today.

However, with the Durham pyramid system in uncharted waters after the Durham Senior League's decision to scrap relegation from their league in 2011, it could well turn out Fell will be saved from demotion.

That will become clearer in the next few weeks, but they have their last home game today against a Sunderland team looking for a top- half finish.