Rugby: Shootout between goalkickers

It is not quite the OK Corral, but a shootout is looming in Christchurch for the NPC first-division rugby final between Wellington and Canterbury.

The "gun-toters" are Wellington first five-eighths David Holwell and Canterbury's rookie fullback, Ben Blair, with both keen to finish the year as the top points-scorer in the first division.

Holwell has amassed 122 points for Wellington, while Blair has scored 124.

Taranaki fullback Daryl Lilley, whose campaign ended with his side's semifinal loss to Canterbury last weekend, has notched 126 points.

In Blair's favour is Wellington's atrocious discipline. They have conceded 79 penalties in their last five games, compared with 39 by Canterbury.

So Blair could have plenty of chances at goal, but he may have to share, or even surrender, the goalkicking duties to All Black first five-eighths Andrew Mehrtens.

Whoever finishes on top, their season's tally will be well below Tony Brown's 196 for Otago in 1998 and Grant Fox's 176 for Auckland in 1990.

Former All Black fullbacks John Gallagher and Robbie Deans hold the Wellington and Canterbury season points records.

Gallagher scored 150 in 1987, while Deans totalled 151 in 1989.

Meanwhile, Wellington had a relaxed but energetic training session at Rongotai College yesterday and it seems centre Alama Ieremia is over his hamstring injury which kept him out of his side's semifinal win over Auckland last Friday night.

The only change expected to the Wellington team is Ieremia's return, as a result of which Tana Umaga will move back to the wing and Brad Fleming will be relegated to the reserves' bench.

- NZPA