NSW denied Queensland an impressive fightback to claim first-innings points on the final day of their Sheffield Shield match, bowling the Bulls out for 236 at the SCG on Sunday.

Queensland came desperately close to securing the vital two competition points with a spirited knock of 90 from Joe Burns putting them within reach of their 270 target.

But NSW prevailed when Scott Coyte (3-41) removed Burns and Steve Magoffin (0) with consecutive deliveries to end the innings 33 runs short of NSW’s first innings total of 269.

Burns was the only Queensland player to pass 50, but he received significant support from tailender Ryan Harris (25 not out) as the two put on 59 runs for the ninth wicket.

The 22-year-old Burns, who was dropped by Blues allrounder Steve Smith on 28, blasted nine fours in his 174-ball knock.

The loss leaves Queensland in equal second spot on the Shield ladder, along with Tasmania and Victoria, with one round of competition to play before the top two teams face off in the final.

Fringe Test paceman Trent Copeland tore through the Bulls top order, claiming the scalps of top three Wade Townsend (31), Alex Kemp (6) and Andrew Robinson (34) on his way to figures of 4-69.

Leg-spinning allrounder Steve Smith chimed in with a pair of wickets before and after lunch as Queensland’s batsmen began to throw their wickets away in cavalier fashion.

Mitchell Starc took a great catch to remove Chris Hartley (15) and give Coyte his first wicket for the day.

Neither side was a chance of claiming an outright result after rain played havoc throughout the match, washing out day two while restricting day three to just 26.2 overs.

In their second innings, the Blues reached 0-15 before bad light ended play early, with Phil Hughes and Nic Maddinson both on seven not out.