Western Australia claimed first innings points as new South Wales fell 97 runs short of the Warriors' total, but both teams were left frustrated at stumps on day four of the rain affected Sheffield Shield clash at the SCG.
Having opted against an early declaration, the Blues struggled to 402 in pursuit of the visitors' imposing 8-499(dec) on a wicket still conducive for batting on Friday, with Simon Katich (108) and Steve Smith (90) the stars with the willow for the home side.
Ashley Noffke was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors finishing with impressive figures of 4-105, while skipper Marcus North claimed the final two scalps to finish with 4-82.
With no chance of a result for either side, the Warriors returned to the crease for seven overs losing the wickets of Luke Towers (three) and Marcus Stoinis for a duck to close at 2-24 when stumps was called.
Beau Casson claimed both scalps for the Blues to finish with morale boosting figures of 2-1 from 2 overs.
"Obviously it was disappointing the rain played such a huge part with so much time lost in the four days but it was encouraging," an upbeat North said of his side's performance.
"We came here looking to play well and we did that with the bat and obviously followed it up with the ball."
His opposite number Katich also praised his players' efforts despite failing to post their first points of the campaign.
"At the start of the day we were obviously still a long way behind so we just wanted to try and get ourselves out of trouble first and then see what happened as the day eventuated," he said.
"As it panned out we were maybe only one partnership away from getting the two points so disappointing not to get there but (there were) some really good signs today."
Katich's century left NSW well placed at lunch but their stocks soon plummeted when Haddin (four) was unable to control a Noffke short ball which beat him for pace, offering a simple catch for North at short square leg in the second over after the interval.
The visitors tightened their grip when Ben Rohrer (13) edged to Luke Ronchi behind the stumps in Steve Magoffin's (1-78) first over with the new ball.
Casson was next to fall trapped lbw for eight by Noffke before North removed Stuart Clark (10) to have the Blues eight wickets down at tea.
Smith was the shining light for NSW in the middle session, striking 10 boundaries and two sixes on his way to his highest first class score, but his rush of blood shortly after the break denied him a maiden ton.
The 20-year-old all-rounder skied an attempted heave over mid wicket off North to Theo Doropoulos who made no mistake in the deep.
The Blues added 155 runs for the loss of two wickets in an extended morning session.
Katich, who was lucky to survive on day three after he was caught off a no ball with his score on three, looked in total control for the remainder of his stay, striking 10 boundaries and a six to cruise to his 48th first-class ton.
But his luck ran out on 108 when he was caught in the gully by Josh Mangan after the ball deflected off team-mate Doropoulos to give Noffke the vital breakthrough.
Usman Khawaja, who put on 145 for the third wicket with his skipper, was the other man to fall in the session when he was trapped in front by North for 61.
On day three, Test hopefuls Phil Hughes (32) and Phil Jaques (40) both failed to post the big scores needed to attract the interest of national selectors, falling either side of tea.
Earlier, Luke Ronchi (148) and Wes Robinson were the stars with the bat for the visitors before the heavens opened denying either side the chance to push for maximum points.
Western Australia 1st innings 8 (dec) 499
New South Wales 1st innings
Jaques c Knowles b Mangan 40
Hughes c Doropoulos b Noffke 32
Katich c Mangan b Noffke 108
Khawaja lbw North 61
Rohrer c Ronchi b Magoffin 13
Haddin c North b Noffke 4
Smith c Doropoulos b North 90
Casson lbw Noffke 8
Clark c Bandy b North 10
Starc c Mangan b North 8
Lambert not out 14
Extras: 14 (3b, 1lb, 8nb, 2w)
Total: 402 (10 wickets; 123.1 overs)
FOW: 1-71, 2-96, 3-241, 4-253, 5-257, 6-286, 7-335, 8-350, 9-382, 10-402
Bowling
Magoffin 23 – 4 – 78 - 1 (5nb)
Dorey 26 – 6 – 53 - 0
Noffke 30 – 5 – 105 - 4 (1nb, 2w)
North 33.1 – 5 - 82 – 4
Mangan 21 – 1 – 80 - 1 (2nb)
Western Australia 2nd innings
Towers c Smith b Casson 3
Robinson not out 17
Stoinis b Casson 0
Doropoulos not out 4
Extras: 0
Total: 24 (2 wickets; 7 overs)
FOW: 1-18, 2-18
Bowling
Clark 2 - 0 - 3 - 0
Lambert 3 - 0 - 20 - 0
Casson 2 - 1 - 1 - 2