Against a Bathurst City side which was chasing its third straight first grade premiership and sixth consecutive grand final appearance, the Saints held their nerve on the weekend to clinch a thrilling 17-run win.

On day one at the Sportsground the Saints had been reduced to 5-25, but captain Adam Ryan (96) and Brendon Cutmore (49) settled in at the crease and helped their side to 218. Ben Orme shone with the ball for Redbacks, claiming 5-72 off 26 overs.

Then on Sunday both Joey Coughlan (49) and Greg Adams (107) – who hit his first century in two seasons – inched Redbacks close to the required total.

But experienced Saint Matt Fearnley took 5-46 off nine overs to help book his side a spot in the grand final alongside Rugby Union.

Not surprisingly, Ryan was delighted.

“He [Fearnley] got a five-for and he did it on one leg too. He couldn’t train all week but he came out and took five-for, he was just over the moon,” the captain said.

“It was a fantastic game. Right from the get-go we put ourselves under pressure and we were playing behind right until we got the very last wicket.

“We were never in control of the match until the end, so it was a credit to the boys to really dig deep and give extra efforts and really work hard to get that result in the end.

“They were favourites all year in the competition, they were on top of the ladder for a long period of the season. On paper and with the experience they have, they are the best side in the comp.

“It was a massive win and it will instil that belief in the players, those young guys.”

It was Redbacks who won the toss on Saturday afternoon and Matt Willis’ decision to bowl first was rewarded. Orme and Clint Moxon (2-34 off 13 overs) impressed with the new ball and first change Trent Hemsworth (2-46 off 25) built on their good work.

In the space of 20 overs, the two-times defending premiers had reduced the Saints to 5-25.

The Saints were in desperate need of a partnership and it was Ryan and Cutmore who provided as they put on 86-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Ryan got within four runs of what would’ve been his second century of the season, falling to Moxon to make it 8-189.

An unbeaten 31 from Tanvir Singh helped the Saints crack 200 before Orme finished off the tail.

In the chase the Saints managed to take wickets whenever a partnership threatened – the first six wickets falling for 95 – but Redbacks still managed to score quickly.

Adams looked as if he may steer his side to victory but he fell to Fearnley and when the experienced bowler struck again two deliveries later, it was all over.

“I’ve never heard a quieter grandstand when we were 5-25. When I went out I thought ‘I hope it’s a bit better at the end of the day’. To watch the confidence we got from posting a score and then defending it today – the young kids were up for it,” Ryan said.

“We knew it was going to be tough – but we just had to run with it and work our butts off.”