Round 8
Wigan Warriors 12 l. St Helens 19

2009 engage English Super League Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Saints edge out Wigan in rip roaring derby
Fri April 10, 2009
Source: www.superleague.co.uk

St Helens took over at the top of engage Super League after demonstrating their defensive prowess to edge a memorable 19-12 victory over Wigan in a rip-roaring derby in front of a 22,232 crowd at the JJB Stadium.

Wigan produced their best performance of the season to dominate the match for long periods but failed to turn their territorial advantage into points and paid the price.

All eyes were on debutant Martin Gleeson, the former St Helens centre, and he produced some neat touches among a host of impressive displays by the home side, who were unlucky not to gain at least a point.

Saints looked distinctly out of sorts but showed great character to come from 12-6 down, sealing victory with two tries in three minutes from Matt Gidley and Leon Pryce.

Wigan, who were forced into a late change when full-back Pat Richards pulled out with a calf injury, were full of confidence from the start with replacement Cameron Phelps setting a superb lead on his first appearance for two months.

Hooker Mark Riddell had the Saints defence back-pedalling with a terrific run which was relieved by an Ade Gardner interception and full-back Phelps went close to touching down Sam Tomkins' grubber kick.

Saints were rattled by Wigan's early dominance and Pryce and Keiron Cunningham both came up with uncharacteristic errors to put their side under pressure.

That pressure paid off on eight minutes when left winger Shaun Ainscough pounced on Thomas Leuluai's kick to the corner to claim his 10th try in just eight senior appearances.

Cunningham quickly made up for his error after Saints regained possession from the kick-off, forcing his way over in trademark fashion from dummy half for an equalising try and Paul Wellens added the goal to put his side in front.

Wigan thought they had regained the lead midway through the first half when second rower Gareth Hock took Sean O'Loughlin's pass and twisted out of Gidley's attempted tackle to touch down but video referee Phil Bentham disallowed the try for a double movement.

As play swung from end to end, Saints forward Tony Puletua broke free, only for his final pass to fall into the hands of Phelps, and Gleeson twice tried to release his winger Amos Roberts.

It was nearly all Wigan in the second quarter but all they had to show for their efforts was a penalty from Roberts after Saints substitute Maurie Fa'asavalu was pulled up for a high tackle.

It was a familiar pattern in the second half, with Wigan looking much the livelier team but lacking the cutting edge to make it count.

They missed a glorious chance to regain the lead when Roberts seized on a St Helens handling error near the line but made a mess of the pick-up.

The pressure eventually told on 52 minutes when Leuluai and Phelps combined to get Ainscough over for his second try at the corner, although it needed a series of slow-motion replays to confirm the winger stayed out of touch.

Roberts' touchline conversion made it 12-6 and it was the least Wigan deserved for their enterprise but Saints struck back with two quickfire tries to turn the game on its head.

First they moved the ball out wide for centre Gidley to slide over for a try and then Pryce pounced on the hour after Roberts dropped Jon Wilkin's perfectly-judged high kick.

Substitute Kyle Eastmond, making his first appearance of the season, took over the goalkicking and landed both conversions to put the visitors six points in front and that is how it stayed until Eastmond put over a 40-metre drop goal in the last minute to make sure.


Wigan v Saints Selling Well
Thu March 26, 2009
Source: www.wiganwarriors.com

The biggest derby in Rugby League is now just a couple of weeks away as Wigan Warriors prepare to face St Helens at the JJB Stadium on Thursday 9th April 2009 with an 8pm kick off.

Already over 16,000 tickets for the clash have been sold and fans are urged to get hold of their tickets as soon as possible to get the best seats in the house. Tickets are available in person from the JJB Stadium Ticket Office, via the Ticket Office Hotline on 0871 66 33 552 and online at www.wiganwarriors.com

The game is attracting fans from far and wide, including twelve coach loads of Rugby League fans from Cumbria with the amateur clubs of Kells, Ulverston and Hensingham, amongst others, heading to the JJB Stadium for the big match.

Hospitality is also selling well and is already 90% full, only a few places remain. If you wish to make it an extra special evening and snap up the limited packages that are still available then please contact Sam Banks on 01942 770436.

Speaking about the game, Chief Executive Mick Hogan said,

"We are delighted with the sale of tickets for the clash so far and I am sure they will continue to sell well as the game draws ever nearer. The fixture this year takes place on the Thursday before Easter and we are expecting a huge crowd for what is the biggest game of the season between two of Rugby League's fiercest rivals."

Fans will be able to see a major advertising campaign for the game which gets underway at the weekend which includes radio, newspaper and outdoor media.

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