Saints » News

Saints produced the complete first half performance as they laid the platform for a stunning 46-10 over the Wigan Warriors.

Led by the superb Sean Long and Leon Pryce, alongside early scores from Talau and Gidley, Daniel Anderson’s men continued their domination over their auld rivals and in turn got back to winning ways.

There was even time for a Meli brace and a flying 60 yarder from Eastmond to seal the deal.

On a brisk, windy and pretty cold day at Knowsley Road, Jon Wilkin started at loose forward with Chris Flannery taking his place in the second row.

Sean Long came returned as scrum half after a knee injury.

Wigan started with the same team that beat Huddersfield last week, but were without Gareth Hock.

The game kicked off with a minute’s silence for Rugby League legend, former Wigan player and Saints’ Life President Eric Ashton MBC, who died in the small hours of Thursday morning.

Wigan kicked off into a strong headwind and immediately put Lee Gilmour under pressure with a tricky ball.

Long then booted high into the wind which caused some problems in the Wigan defence.

On four minutes Saints got within ten of the Wigan line through good work from Long and Wellens. Wigan were then penalised for offside and from the restart Gidley very nearly went over for the opener.

Gilmour then took a great ball from Long and was held up just inches from the line.

Then, ferocious tackling forced the ball loose and Talau nearly benefited on a last tackle burst.

This early pressure underlined the fact Saints were having the better of the opening exchanges – taking advantage of the inclement weather and some smart play from half backs Pryce and Long.

And when the opening score came, it was excellent. Wilkin broke through the centre and managed to flip the ball out under pressure. Pryce then took it on and got off an amazing ball over the shoulder to Talau who plunged over. Longy wide with the extras.

Long stretched the lead to six with a well taken penalty.

On 19 minutes, Saints took advantage of a poor Wigan kick to race the length of the field. Firstly Longy took it on, then Talau and Meli.

From there, the score was always on and Long got the ball wide to Gidley who dummied his way over in the corner. Longy hit the crossbar with the conversion. 10-0

Higham was then sent to the sin bin for persistent lying on and Saints profited once again. From the tap, Saints went down the middle and once Pryce had gone close, Fa’asavalu took it on, flipped the ball out to James Graham who did the rest. Longy easy with the extras to send the home fans into dreamland.

Another great kick on 25 minutes put Saints right on the line once again. And from the scrum, Wellens dove over the line to heap more pain on the Warriors. Long added the two pointer to make it 22-0.

Bailey thought he had posted Wigan’s first points when he touched down from a high Barrett kick, but Meli was impeded as he went for the ball and the Warriors remained pointless.

Roby went close five minutes before the end of the half, but just lost control over the line.

Half Time: Saints 22-0 Wigan

(Sid the Pig was disqualified for improper carrying of egg and spoon (shovel) giving the title to a superb Boots.)

On Wigan’s first attack of the second half, Michael McIlorum went over under the sticks after Iafeta Paleaaesina did the hard yards.

Saints then repelled borders as wave after wave of Warrior attack came in – penning the home side back in their own twenty.

Pryce then cleared his lines with a great kick that Colbon failed to take, giving Saints their first set of six in the Wigan half. Long forcing a drop out with a clever chip kick.

And on the last tackle following the kick, Colbon failed to ground a chip through and Long touched down. The number 7 with the extras.

Long then set up Meli with a superb cut out pass that missed three players, to stretch the lead further.

And with 17 minutes left, Leon Pryce jinked his way over from 20 yards out with a quality score to seal the win.

Carmont pulled back a mere consolation for Wigan, but it was too little too late as the final stages underlined.

With seconds to go, Gardner went 70 yards before the ball was worked out to Meli to notched up another try. Eastmond with the superb extras from the touchline.

Kyle then flew in from 60 yards out to seal the deal!

"It was a classy and professional display," said Daniel Anderson after the game. "It was a real improvement on things of late.

"Longy was outstanding; I thought his decision making was first class, but throughout the team we worked for each other."

He continued: "We had blokes making half breaks that were backing up each other and we supported better than we have done all year."

Match Summary

Saints:

Tries: Talau, Gidley, Graham, Wellens, Long, Meli (2), Pryce, Eastmond

Goals: Long (4 from 8), Eastmond (1 from 2)

Wigan:

Tries: McIlorum, Carmont

Goals: O'Loughlin (1 from 2)

Penalties:

Saints: 12

Wigan: 9

HT (Sts First): 22-0

FT (Sts First): 46-10

ATT: 17,500

REF: Richard Silverwood

Teams:

Saints:

1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 4. Willie Talau, 5. Francis Meli; 6. Leon Pryce, 7. Sean Long; 18. Bryn Hargreaves, 14. James Roby, 17. James Graham, 11. Lee Gilmour, 16. Chris Flannery, 12. Jon Wilkin.

Subs: 15. Mike Bennett, 21. Paul Clough, 23. Maurie Fa’asavalu, 24. Kyle Eastmond.

Wigan:

5. Pat Richards; 2. Mark Calderwood, 3. Darrell Goulding, 4. George Carmont, 14. Liam Colbon; 6.Trent Barrett, 7. Thomas Leuluai, 8. Stuart Fielden, 9. Mickey Higham, 15. Andy Coley, 16. Harrison Hansen, 12. Phil Bailey, 13. Sean O'Loughlin.

Subs: 10. Iafeta Paleaaesina, 17. Michael McIlorum, 22. Joel Tomkins, 24. Eamon O’Carroll.