The two-day semi-final played across Saturday and Sunday saw two of the most controversial decisions in recent Dubbo cricket memory with one player timed out and another given run out when he had walked out of his crease to talk to his batting partner.

But even those big talking points failed to dampen the mood of Newtown as they began celebrating as soon as Jacob Bruce was caught off the bowling of Mat Skinner to hand the Tigers the 41-run victory.

It ends a drought of more than 10 years since Newtown's last grand final appearance and captain Mat Skinner was understandably delighted after the match.

"Absolutely loving it, first grand final in played in just over 10 years so we'll soak it up during the week and then see what we can do on the weekend," he said.

"It's well deserved through the year. To put in the hard yards and beat that Rugby team with I think three or four out is an awesome feeling."

Newtown were sent in by Rugby on Saturday and the Tigers went on to post 247 with Skinner (49) and Wayne Dunlop (44) the top-scorers.

The biggest moment came at the fall of the first wicket when number three Steve Skinner was then dismissed timed out after failing to reach the pitch within three minutes.

Umpires John DeLyall and Keith Morton had no hesitation in sending Skinner back to the sheds he was slow to come out of.

Adrian Carey went on to take 4-46 for Rugby before nightwatchmen Andrew Rose and Tyler Woodrow survived the final three overs of the day and saw Rugby through to 0-3 at stumps.

The play on Sunday began with both Rose (3) and Woodrow (5) departing early but Rugby captain Jordan Moran and Mitch Bower then looked to get the run chase on track.

The pair had added 15 for the third wicket before the match's second moment of controversy.

Bower skied a shot to the leg side and after running through for two and the ball having been thrown back in to Skinner, Moran went to talk to his partner.

But umpire DeLyall determined that the ball was not dead and when Skinner removed the bails, the finger was raised and despite Moran's protests he was forced to go.

With emotions getting high the match was threatening to boilover but Bower and Nathan Munro put their heads down and got Rugby back into the match.

Both rode their luck, each being dropped early, but they then showed plenty of class and with the score at 3-168 they were seemingly in control.

But shortly before drinks Munro lofted a drive to mid-off to be out for 46.

Bower was well past 50 and seemingly cruising but shortly after drinks he went for a booming drive off the bowling of Mat Skinner (5-70) and was caught out for 83.

"We were really on the ropes coming into that last drinks break but to get Nath (Munro) out just before drinks was a big blow," Skinner said.

"We knew after having a bit of talk in the sheds that if we picked up Mitch or another one or two quick wickets after drinks we were really in the game."

With the required run rate growing after drinks the pressure was on Rugby and when Aidan Bennewith (2), Ben Taylor (1) and Pat Berryman (18) departed it was not long before the Tigers clinched a win that will long be talked about in Dubbo cricket.