Both teams with everything on the line: Rugby Union one the verge of a second innings victory and the minor premiership that comes with it, but Bathurst City one wicket away from knocking Cavaliers out of the finals.

The crowd holds their breath, everyone waits to see which teams gets their fairy tale moment and... They tie.

Both teams end the four innings on Morse Park 1 locked on 261 runs as Jonah Ruzgas is run out, leading to the rare scenario where both clubs come away bitterly disappointed by the result.

Rugby will still be playing finals cricket, but will do so in a sudden death situation, while Redbacks' first innings victory alone didn't give them the required points to leap into fourth.

"It was pretty out there. I haven't been involved in anything like that before," Redbacks captain Joey Coughlan said.

"Credit to the Rugby boys giving it a crack to try and become minor premiers but it wasn't to be for either of us with the tie.

"I didn't think it was possible either for a team to get an outright on that pitch because it was an absolute belter, and we got sent in on a soft green top and got almost 200.

"But that's cricket. It only takes 10 good balls. We just didn't have those 10 good balls early enough I suppose."

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Bathurst City, having seen that fourth placed Cavaliers were about to beat Orange City, knew an outright victory was their only remaining path to finals.

Redbacks fired off a quick fire 5-63 in their second innings before declaring, giving Rugby a target of 135.

Rugby looked like achieving that when Sam Macpherson (56) and Jameel Qureshi (41) got going but their dismissals in the space of four runs left the game in the balance at 7-116.

Last wicket heroics from Ruzgas (13) and Hugh McIntyre (4 not out) almost did the job for Rugby.

"I was out there at square leg, which was making the nerves even worse," Rugby captain Ryan Peacock laughed.

"We looked safe when Sam and Jameel had that big partnership but when they got out it started looking dire, but the guys at the end did great job to get us to where we were.

"When you get that close you're left feeling a bit disappointed.

"I was keeping tabs on MyCricket and there was a grand picture of coming first but I think we probably didn't deserve that after the way we played in this game so I think we're sitting in the right spot."

The tied game ensured St Pat's Old Boys would take first place on the ladder, and they'll now play Orange City in the major semi-final.

Rugby plays Cavs in the minor semi.

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