SAINTS unbeaten run was ended by Wigan in a rousing Good Friday derby.
In front of a packed house a Tommy Makinson double wasn’t enough as the Warriors won 33-14
Saints made far too many errors and found their opposition mean in defence and clinical going forward.
Wigan led 20-14 at half time thanks to the boot of ex-Saint Matty Smith.
Both sides scored three tries apiece but two conversions and a bizarre penalty on the buzzer gave the visitors the advantage.
Saints didn’t get going in the second as Liam Farrell and Joe Burgess scored within the first few minutes of the restart.
That left Nathan Brown’s side with an uphill task and although Luke Walsh tried to rally his troops they couldn’t find the execution they desired.
Matty Smith making the game safe with a one-pointer late on.
Saints may have lacked the punch Willie Manu and Anthony Laffranchi would have brought but Mark Flanagan and Greg Richards did well in their place.
Adam Swift was ruled out with a knock, allowing Matty Dawson to move to his more accustomed position on the wing.
The crowd was massive, the build up huge… and Wigan got a gigantic start when a loose carry from Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook saw the ball jarred from his grasp at the kick off.
Saints defended one set but Sean O’Loughlin burrowed over on the next.
Smith with the extras.
The home side didn’t hang about though and on their next set they replied.
Jonny Lomax took on the line, darted through the slightest of gaps and Tommy Makinson scored in the corner.
One handed…
Lomax broke again in the tenth minute and then a minute later Saints almost scored again.
Alex Walmsley got Luke Walsh involved and his ball found Jon Wilkin and then Matty Dawson.
But it was chalked off for obstruction.
On the 17th minute Wigan went ahead. Blake Green poked his way through at dummy half, O’Loughlin made the break and he fired a nice pass out for Dan Sarginson to score.
Smith with the conversion off the touchline.
Wigan’s kicking game was better than Saints’ and it showed with their next try. A great chip over on the last beat the leaping Jordan Turner.
The Warriors then recycled the ball and Liam Farrell wrong footed Lomax.
There is steel and strength in this Saints team though and they hit back on 25 minutes.
Walsh was again involved moving the ball quickly to Makinson for his second as Saints took full advantage of a penalty.
With five minutes left in the half it really was game on.
Jordan Turner had one disallowed as the ball was stripped from him two on one as he went over.
Saints were given the penalty and Turner made no mistake the second time round after great footwork from Lance Hohaia.
That brought the score back to 18-14, but Smith kicked a penalty right on the stroke of half time.
Much to the annoyance of the home support.
It was a lead they extended within four minutes of the second half.
On the last Liam Farrell hacked a ball forward, it hit Lomax square in the chest and fell nicely back into the welcome arms of the second rower.
Seconds later Wigan should have been penalised as Lomax chased a kick through – but they returned the ball with interest and Joe Burgess scorched over in the corner.
Richards was hit by a flying O’Loughlin elbow/forearm on 50 minutes – a tackle that saw the Wigan player placed on report.
Saints had chances in the final 20 but found their ball control lacking at crucial times.
Wigan’s defence was on the up at every set too
Matty Smith tagged a drop goal with less than 12 remaining but the game was gone then.
Saints stay top of the tree but will have to regroup and go again on Easter Monday at Widnes before the tough trip to Headingley next Saturday.
Match Summary:
Saints:
Tries: Makinson (2), Turner
Goals: Walsh (1 from 3)
Wigan:
Tries: O’Loughlin, Sarginson, Farrell (2), Burgess
Goals: Smith (6 from 7)
Drop: Smith
Penalties:
Saints: 6
Wigan: 5
HT: 14-20
FT: 14-33
REF: Richard Silverwood
ATT: 17980
Teams:
Saints:
1. Jonny Lomax; 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Jordan Turner, 4. Josh Jones, 26. Matty Dawson; 6. Lance Hohaia, 7. Luke Walsh; 18. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 12. Jon Wilkin, 11. Sia Soliola, 15. Mark Flanagan.
Subs: 8. Mose Masoe, 17. Paul Wellens, 23. Joe Greenwood, 27. Greg Richards.
Wigan:
1. Matty Bowen; 23. Dan Sarginson, 3. Darrell Goulding, 4. Ian Thornley, 32. Joe Burgess; 6. Blake Green, 7. Matty Smith; 8. Scott Taylor, 9. Michael McIlorum, 10. Ben Flower, 25. John Bateman, 12. Liam Farrell, 13. Sean O’Loughlin.
Subs: 22. Eddy Pettybourne, 24. Tony Clubb, 27. George Williams, 28. Jordan James.
