Bulls given a scare in making Bartercard Premiership final

Top-ranked Canterbury is through to the 2009 Bartercard Premiership final but only after surviving a scare against Wellington in the competition's second semi-final on Sunday.

Unbeaten in the regular phase of the six-team provincial championship, the Bulls were pushed all the way before taking the lead and then holding Wellington out to win 20-17 at Rugby League Park in Christchurch.

The result took the Canterbury Bulls into next Sunday's grand final against Auckland, which eliminated Waikato with ease 60-4 in the first semi-final at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday.

Better still for the Bulls the decider - to be televised live by Sky Sport - will be played in Christchurch, one of the rare occasions a national competition final has been staged outside Auckland.

A previous occasion was in 1993 when Canterbury enjoyed one of its most memorable days at Rug by League Park, trouncing a talent-laden Auckland line-up 36-12 to win the then first division championship final 36-12.

The four Bartercard Cup finals the Bulls played in - winning in 2000 and 2003 - were all played in Auckland as was last year