Super League: Wigan Warriors 6-14 St Helens
- From the section Rugby League
| Betfred Super League |
|---|
| Wigan Warriors (0) 6 |
| Try: Tomkins Goal: Tomkins |
| St Helens (8) 14 |
| Tries: Peyroux, Knowles Goals: Richardson 3 |
St Helens extended their lead at the top of Super League to 10 points with a defiant derby win at second-placed local rivals Wigan Warriors.
Dominique Peyroux's first-half try helped Saints lead 8-0 at the break.
Morgan Knowles crossed shortly after half-time to stretch the visitors' lead to 14 points, before Wigan hit back.
The hosts had hope with 10 minutes left when Sam Tomkins raced over and converted, but Saints battled on to secure their 13th consecutive victory.
The delighted visitors' tireless defence ultimately saw them over the line, but the hosts had gone close when Dan Sarginson was narrowly held up and Romain Navarrete had an effort ruled out for a double movement, both shortly before Tomkins' score.
Those decisions came after Knowles' try was eventually given after replays showed he had just bundled over despite last-ditch tackles from the Warriors defence.
Danny Richardson's boot added six points for Saints, whose winning run in all competitions stretches back to their 24-20 loss at Wakefield on 15 April.
Injury-hit Wigan's new signing Chris Hankinson made his debut from the start, two days after the centre arrived from Championship side Swinton Lions.
St Helens coach Justin Holbrook: "It definitely wasn't easy. It was one of the toughest games I've watched.
"Neither team gave an inch, there was big hit after big hit for 80 minutes, which showed the brutality of our game.
"They're a quality side and, although I know they had some troops out, they kept coming and it ended up as a cracking derby."
Wigan coach Shaun Wane: "The best team won, without a shadow of a doubt.
"They had the majority of the game but I'm really proud of our efforts. It was a typical derby.
"They got stuck into each other, there were injured bodies and blood everywhere, which is a great sign."
Wigan: Tomkins, Davies, Hankinson, Sarginson, Marshall, Woods, Powell, Clubb, Leuluai, Flower, Isa, Bateman, Navarrette.
Replacements: Tautai, Hamlin, Paisley, Greenwood.
St Helens: Lomax, Swift, Makinson, Morgan, Grace, Fages, Richardson, Amor, Roby, Thompson, Peyroux, Knowles, Wilkin.
Replacements: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Douglas, Lees, Ashworth.
Referee: Robert Hicks.
