SOUTH NORTH completed their remarkable second-half of the season comeback to snatch the NEPL championship from Chester-le-Street.

The Cestrians found the Durham Academy too tough a nut to crack and were heading for a heavy defeat when the rain arrived to save their skins, the youngsters on 190-3 chasing 211 to win with 12 overs left.

But as the rain moved east towards Ashbrooke the Bulls were in a desperate race for victory as a draw would have meant the title would remain at Ropery Lane.

And Lee Crozier successfully held on to a steepling catch under threatening skies to claim the final Sunderland wicket that meant South North were champions once more.