LAST week’s stunning set of results have opened the door to endless possibilities at either end of the table, with a thrilling climax to the season in prospect.

Bishop Auckland, the conquerors of Guisborough, now take a pot at their closest rivals for championship honours, Middlesbrough, who crashed to an ignominious defeat against bottom club Thornaby last time out.

Bishop’s win over the Priorymen was marked by skipper Gary Pratt’s marshalling of his forces to ensure he could catch a flight to Heathrow, with the Kingsway men bowling their 50 overs in just two hours ten minutes, and then Pratt hitting a rapid 50 before departing to meet up with his Minor Counties teammates – a worthwhile trip as the Cumbria skipper hit 159 against Buckinghamshire.

But if Pratt is on form then so is Boro captain James Lowe who was also a century maker in the same game. Lowe will have a new player at his disposal – Yasir Shah has now left to join up with Pakistan A and the club have moved quickly to register a substitute with Suleman Khan debuting today. Omar Shahid is also back in the side.

One crumb of comfort coming out of Guisborough’s defeat was the fact that they actually reduced Boro’s lead in the table to a fragile two points after picking up a better return from their own reverse.

And a home game this afternoon against a struggling Northallerton could provide the outlet for their frustrations as the visitors will be missing talismanic skipper Jon Barnes who is so crucial to their fortunes.

The Priorymen have Stu Mackay back in the side, the spinner replacing Ryan Murray, while Town can at least call on the returning Darren Pavan, and Albert Aurelius returns in place of Jon Shanks.

Just a few miles away at the SCG two teams lock horns who still have a lot to say in the title stakes. For Stokesley the defeats suffered by the top two pushed the title door slightly ajar again, while for today’s opponents, Marton, they threw it wide open.

The pair met a few short weeks ago in the Kerridge final and champions Marton will be desperate for revenge.

Surprisingly their nemesis on that day, eight-wicket Clive Dowson, can’t find a place in the home dressing room as Will Brown and Josh Linton return from holiday. Marton, who have a game in hand on the top two with 18 points to make up, have Lee Hodgson back from Yorkshire duty to put them at full strength.

At the opposite end of the table Mandale Bottoms is the venue for a game of equal importance when bottom club Thornaby entertain a Billingham team just 24 points above them, both sides in good spirits following last week’s surprise victories.

But Neil Coverdale will be a big loss to the home side – he leads their amateur batting ranks with over 500 runs at an impressive average of 67, and his holidays leave a big hole to fill. With Chris Metcalfe also missing, Chris Minto and Hassan Baksh are drafted in. The Synners have both Craig Symington and Mark Davies in their side, although Nisal Randika will not arrive until mid-August.

In today’s other games Simon Lee and Simon Whitehead turn out for Darlington against unchanged Normanby Hall, Ben Walker replaces Col Haslett in the Marske side to take on a Great Ayton team that includes the returning Chris Witherley, and Lewis Stabler plays for Richmond after a highly successful week with North of England under 15s – visitors Hartlepool are missing Steve Purcifer.