Defending 181, Northo got off to a good start when they reduced the Scorpions to 3/31 before Greg Haynes (43) and Glen Jacobson (30) worked hard to get the visitors back in the game.

They lifted the score to 5/106 before Haynes was out, and when Clint Moss departed for 26 at 7/133 it looked like the home team would take the points.

A late order rally from Alan Griffis, Chris Bourke and Scott Hess- ion turned the match around and set up a tense finish at 8/177.

But Nick Steffan picked up Hession and when Martin Shield bat- ting hero Peter Wood edged Andrew Steffan (2/14 off 12.2) to Andy Mann in the next over, North Richmond had the points.

There was also plenty of fingernail biting at Richmond Park where Freemans Reach kept its finals hopes alive with a three-run victory against Glossodia.

With the Gladiators sitting pre- tty at 2/32 chasing 104, the Mar- oons needed something special and they got it from Dave Camar- sh (3/21), Dan Jones (3/37) and Cameron Coote (3/27).

Coote removed Don Levy just six runs into the day's play but Glossodia edged to 3/55 before the rot set in and the Gladiators lost 5/8 to crash to 8/63, and at 9/77 they were all but gone.

Last pair Pat Lawrence (18no) and Geoff Drury inched towards the target and got within one good strike of victory with a 24-run partnership before Coote knocked him over to complete a thrill- ing triumph.

Pitt Town leapt back into minor premiership contention when it made short work of a disappointing Maroota at Bensons 5.

Declaring with their overnight lead of 97, Towner quicks Andrew King and Mick Vander Reyden blasted through the eight Blues' batsmen in just 11.2 overs for 25 to secure an outright win.

Heading into the final round just 10 points separates first and fifth, with fifth-placed Freemo well-placed to muscle into the finals with a clash against Maroota.

Don't miss tomorrow's Courier for the breakdown of what could happen in all grades.

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LAS T week Riverstone bashed 378 against North Richmond Gold in sixth grade to send the Golds to the brink of dropping out of finals contention.

But in an amazing chase, Nor- tho reached 6/382 to secure a remarkable win and a finals' spot.

Brett Pincott (107) got his mai- den ton and he had plenty of help.