Round 27
Wigan Warriors 20 d. St Helens 12

2007 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: United Kingdom > National > First Grade Competition: engage English Super League

Wigan stun Saints to claim play-off position
Sat September 15, 2007
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

Wigan Warriors stunned rivals St Helens with a stirring second-half performance to claim a place in the engage Super League play-offs for the first time in three years courtesy of a 20-12 win.

The Warriors trailed 10-6 at the break but found an extra gear to hold off the champions and retain their top-six spot ahead of Warrington Wolves.

Tries from Thomas Leuluai and Liam Colbon, as well as three goals from Pat Richards, proved crucial as the Warriors edged an electric derby in front of 22,031 at the JJB Stadium.

Wigan had gone into the game under pressure after losing their last eight matches to Saints and with Warrington facing a relatively easier task at relegated Salford City Reds.

Yet they somehow found enough in the tank to earn a victory that meant the deduction of four points for breaching salary cap restrictions would not prove too costly.

The win also meant another game for Maurice Lindsay, the long-serving and influential Wigan chairman who is retiring at the end of the season. Lindsay himself was unable to attend the game after recently undergoing surgery.

Yet it was Saints who held a slight advantage after a breathless first half due to tries from Willie Talau and Ade Gardner. Wigan's lone first-half try came from David Vaealiki.

It was the visitors who created the first meaningful attack as Matt Gidley supported a break by Leon Pryce, but the move broke down with an uncharacteristic knock-on from Keiron Cunningham at dummy half.

Another chance went by as Mike Bennett spilled the ball close to the line, but Wigan gave as good as they got in the early stages and twice had Saints scrambling to clear.

Gardner did particularly well to grab a dangerous bouncing kick from Thomas Leuluai as Vaealiki looked poised to touch down.

A needless penalty gave Saints the chance to take the lead on 13 minutes as Leon Pryce rifled a long-range pass wide for Willie Talau to race through.

Wigan responded instantly with Vaealiki breaking from deep inside his own half for a superb try. The Kiwi had options to his left and right but dummied a pass to Mark Calderwood to fool full-back Paul Wellens and race in.

Pat Richards added the extras to put Wigan in front but in keeping with an end-to-end encounter, Saints had the lead back before the break.

They were denied when Richards brilliantly intercepted close to his own line but there was no denying Gardner from a pinpoint Pryce kick.

Stand-off Pryce was given time to pick his spot and his high bomb to the corner was inch-perfect for Gardner. Wellens converted to give the visitors a four-point cushion at the break.

Wigan made just the start to the second half they needed as Leuluai crashed over following a superb run from Iafeta Paleaaesina three minutes after the restart.

Richards' second conversion put the Warriors back ahead and Sean O'Loughlin narrowly failed to take a pass that would have given the hosts another try moments later.

Saints were getting little respite as Wigan kept up the momentum and it was the video referee who came to their aid to deny Calderwood a try as Leuluai was caught offside.

The visitors managed to get back level at 12-12 through Wellens after Phil Bailey conceded a try in front of the posts but Wigan remained on top and were rewarded as Vaealiki put Colbon over from close range on the right.

Richards missed the conversion but made amends with a penalty soon after and another goal close to full-time saw the Warriors home.

Report source: www.superleague.co.uk

Article: Noble harbours high hopes


Wigan v St Helens Ticket Update
Tue September 11, 2007
Source: www.wiganwarriors.com

Wigan Warriors can today announce that both the South and North Stands at the JJB Stadium have sold out for Friday's huge local derby between Wigan and St Helens.

The Warriors go into the game knowing a victory will secure a place in the end of season playoffs while St Helens will be looking to extend their impressive run of victories over their arch-rivals to nine games.

If the Warriors were to achieve a crowd in excess of 21,550 they would set their first 16,000+ seasonal average crowd since records began two decades ago.

That now looks very likely as sales have today passed the 20,000 mark, however tickets for the East and West Stands are still available to purchase.

Given the large number of tickets already sold and following Easter's sell out between the two sides, the Wigan Club are urging any fans wanting to watch the game live to purchase their tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.

Tickets are still available for the game from the JJB Stadium Ticket Office, Knowsley Road Ticket Office, Warriors Ticket Hotline on 0871 66-33-552, Saints Ticket Hotline on 0870 756-52-52 (option 1) and online at wiganwarriors.com/etickets.

News sent by: www.wiganwarriors.com

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