St Helens battle back to overcome Wigan
Leon Pryce scored the crucial try for St Helens
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Thursday, 09, Apr 2009 10:09
St Helens scored two tries in as many minutes to come from behind and beat Wigan Warriors 19-12 at the JJB Stadium.
Wigan had lost their last three league encounters against their bitter rivals, but showed no signs of any fear of the Saints and started the better side.
They should have had an early try when young Joel Tomkins broke through the St Helens defence and put in a kick towards the try-line. Cameron Phelps got to the ball first but was unable to pick it up under pressure from the St Helens defence.
The Warriors though didn't have to wait long to take the lead as Thomas Leuluai noticed St Helens right-wing Ade Gardner was away from his touchline and played a kick over his head and Shaun Ainscough raced through and touched the ball down.
With Pat Richards out injured, the kicking duties for Wigan fell to Amos Roberts. But the Australian missed the conversion attempt.
St Helens were only behind for a couple of minutes as Wigan allowed the ball to bounce out from the kick-off after they had scored the try and gave the Saints a great attacking position.
Keiron Cunnigham somehow managed to barge over and put the ball down despite having four Wigan players all over him. Paul Wellens added the extras to give Saints the lead.
Wigan thought they had regained the lead, but Gareth Hock had a claim for a try turned-down for making a double-movement to the try-line. But the Warriors deservedly went in level at the break as Roberts kicked a late penalty.
After a sustained period of pressure by Wigan at the beginning of the second-half, the Warriors created space on the left-wing and Ainscough dived in for the try.
The decision was referred to the video referee and replays from front on suggested Ainscough had slid into touch. But the replays from the back showed that the Wigan winger had done amazingly well to lift his legs in the air as he headed into touch and grounded the ball for the try.
Roberts then kicked the conversion from the touchline to give his side a 12-6 lead.
Once again St Helens came storming back and Matt Gidley finished brilliantly as he dove low between two Wigan players to score the try.
Two minutes later the Saints took a stunning lead when Roberts Fumbled a high ball from Jon Wilkin and the ball fell straight into the arms of Leon Pryce who grabbed the try.
Kyle Eastmond converted both tries to give St Helens the lead at 18-12 with 15 minutes to go of the game. The youngster then kicked a late drop-goal to secure the win for St Helens.
In the other game of the evening, Catalans Dragons edged out Harlequins 28-24 at the Stoop. Casey McGuire, Clint Greenshields, Olivier Elima and Jerome Guisset (2) scored the tries for the Dragons.
Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Chris Melling, Jason Golden and Matt Gardner crossed the try-line for Harlequins.