Saints made it eight wins on the trot against the auld enemy with a superb 19-12 win.

In a typical blood and thunder Derby, Saints came up trumps after withstanding wave after wave of Wigan attack.

Once again the weather was against fast flowing Rugby League. An estimated two inches fell on the Knowsley Road pitch before kick off and it was very slippery underfoot.

 

In the dressing rooms, Sean Long returned for the Saints – but on the bench – with James Roby taking on the unfamiliar position of Scrum Half. Australian Chris Flannery also made his debut from the bench.

 

Francis Meli also signed a three-year extension to his contract before the game.

 

Wigan kept with the same side that beat Leeds last week – with Northampton Saints-bound full back Chris Ashton ‘demoted’ to the under 21s before the game.

 

Two tackles in and Klein set his stall out – penalty against Wigan for lying on. Saints went up the field but great work from Pryce and Roby couldn’t set Gidley free.

 

A minute later Wigan were caught offside and in the process Fielden came off worse after he attempted to tackle Fozzie. The big man’s shoulder more than a match for the Warriors’ forward who left the field.

 

Then, poor handling by Wigan gifted Saints possession in midfield with Leon Pryce. The ball was worked through to Cunningham who popped it on a plate to the rampaging Cayless who scooted over. Wellens added the extras.

 

Saints’ next score was world class. Fozzie broke through the middle and ripped the Warriors defence apart. Next up was Roby who slipped it to Cunningham who fired a beautiful, long and flighted pass over to Meli in the corner. Wellens just shy with the conversion.

 

From the restart Klein ruled that Pryce’s pass to Cayless behind his goal line was forward. The drop out gave Wigan the chance to fire straight back but Wellens snuffed out the danger. Another drop out put Saints under more pressure but they were more than a match for Wigan’s expansive play.

 

Fozzie, Wellens and Pryce then opened up the defence once again, but poor pass choice failed to create a guilt-edged chance.

 

Back came Wigan with some pressure of their own on the Saints try line, but after winning another set of six from a James Graham knock on, they couldn’t keep hold of the ball with the whitewash begging.

 

Saints defence was unrelenting – denying Wigan a sniff at every opportunity.

 

With nine to go, Wello could have done better when clean though but closing defence denied the opportunity and on the next set, Meli dropped the ball in his own goal area to give Wigan six on the Saints’ line.

 

Again the opportunity was lost – an obstruction penalty, then another ten yards for ‘mouthing off’ bringing Saints clear.

 

Wigan nearly hit back, but Meli grounded the ball to deny the score in goal after a great kick from Barrett. Gardner then did the same a minute later.

 

From the drop out, Wigan went close and another set of six for obstruction put more pressure on the Saints line.

 

As the half time hooter went, Barrett popped the ball over the sticks with a great ‘cheeky’ reverse kick and Richards seemed to ground it. After each successive viewing, the case for a knock on seemed to grow more and more but after an age the video ref gave it the benefit of the doubt. Richards then pulled the Warriors to within four.

 

Saints came out a few minutes early for the second half and their eagerness was nearly punished straightaway. Wello nervously took a high ball under his sticks that ricocheted off his chest and back into his welcome arms.

 

From the drop out, Wigan went within a few metres and another Barrett kick was knocked out for a yet another drop kick. Three tackles later Richards was adjudged to be held up by the video ref and finally, Francis Meli diffused the pressure by bundling Calderwood and the ball into touch.

 

Returning from injury, Longy attempted a penalty 45 yards out in front of the sticks on 47 minutes and missed it by a mile. Thankfully, he got the ball dead at least.

 

Saints needed something to break the Wigan stranglehold of the second half and got it through a superb 40:20 kick from Long. It put brutal pressure on the Warriors’ line but poor handling and kicking gave possession away.

 

But sensationally, Wigan coughed up the ball straightaway and Pryce scooted over to put Saints eight clear. Long added the extras.

 

Leon’s intervention was a timely reminder that the Champions can withstand wave after wave of attack, but deliver the counter blow.

 

Sean Long then added a penalty midway through the half to take Saints two converted scores clear.

 

Wigan hit back through Goulding, but Longy added a drop goal with four to go to secure the win.

 

Final comment? A tough, brutal, cracking match – exactly why this is the biggest Derby in Rugby League. 

 

Tries: Cayless, Meli, Pryce

Goals: Wellens (1 from 3), Long (2 from 2)

Drops: Long

 

Tries: Richards, Goulding

Goals: Richards (1 from 1), O’ Loughlin (1 from 1),

 

Saints: 12

Wigan: 9

 

HT: 10-6

FT: 19-12

ATT: 14,293

MOM: James Roby

 

1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 4. Willie Talau, 5. Francis Meli; 6. Leon Pryce, 14. James Roby; 8. Nick Fozzard, 9. Keiron Cunningham, 10. Jason Cayless, 15. Mike Bennett, 22. Paul Clough, 18. Bryn Hargreaves.

Subs: 7. Sean Long, 17. James Graham, 23. Maurie Fa’asavalu, 30. Chris Flannery.

 

5. Pat Richards; 2. Mark Calderwood, 3. Phil Bailey, 14. David Vaealiki, 23. Liam Colbon; 6. Trent Barrett, 7. Thomas Leuluai; 8, Stuart Fielden, 9. Mickey Higham, 10. Iafeta Paleaaesina, 11. Gareth Hock, 12. Bryan Fletcher, 13. Sean O’Loughlin.

Subs: 18, Paul Prescott, 25. Mike McIlorum, 19. Harrison Hansen, 20. Darrell Goulding.

 

REF: Ashley Klein