Pryce scored a great second-half try

St Helens: (22) 46
Tries: Long, Meli (2), Pryce, Eastmond, Talau, Gidley, Graham, Wellens
Goals: Long (4) Eastmond

Wigan: (0) 12
Tries: McIlorum, Carmont
Goals: O'Loughlin

St Helens produced a scintillating display in wintery conditions to brush aside local rivals Wigan in the traditional Good Friday derby.

Willie Talau set the tone for Saints' victory with a superb first try after collecting an inventive pass from the outstanding Leon Pryce.

The home side then scored 22 points in 26 minutes before half-time and powered to another six tries after the break.

Michael McIlorum and George Carmont went over for an outclassed Wigan side.

Interview: St Helens scrum-half Sean Long

St Helens' excellent performance saw them rediscover the attacking form that has only come in fits and starts in a stuttering start to the season.

606: DEBATE What did you think of the match?

Wigan made life difficult for themselves with several offside decisions going against them in the first half, while their handling was poor in the face of serious St Helens pressure.

After being denied twice in the opening 10 minutes by last-ditch Wigan defending, Talau finally found the gap after collecting Pryce's cheeky pass.

Australian centre Matt Gidley added to the scoreline after good work from Sean Long and Chris Flannery, shortly before Wigan's day took another turn for the worse with the sin-binning of Mickey Higham for his side's persistent offside.

Last year's Young Player of the Year James Graham added another when he surged over after picking up Maurie Fa'asavalu's ball from the tackle.

Paul Wellens applied more misery for Wigan soon after when he scrambled over despite almost having his shorts ripped off by a desperate Thomas Leuluai challenge.

Brian Noble's men had a brief bright spell after the restart with McIlorum going over, but further tries from Long, and a brace from Francis Meli left them with too much to do.

Carmont's score for Wigan barely even counted as a consolation and individual crackers from Pryce and youngster Kyle Eastmond rounded off the rout.

"It was a significant improvement on what we've doing of late and Sean was outstanding today.

"There is no doubt about it. His decision-making was tremendous and his kicking was first class. In general, we worked a lot harder for each other."

"We're all very disappointed. We didn't start real well and the penalties and errors played into Saints' hands. The sin-binning didn't help.

"It's important we respond as best we can on Monday."

St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Talau, Meli, Pryce, Long, Hargreaves, Roby, Graham, Gilmour, Flannery, Wilkin.
Replacements: Bennett, Clough, Fa'asavalu, Eastmond.

Wigan: Richards, Calderwood, Goulding, Carmont, Colbon, Barrett, Leuluai, Fielden, Higham, Coley, Hansen, Bailey, O'Loughlin.
Replacements: Paleaaesina, McIlorum, J. Tomkins, O'Carroll.

Referee: R Silverwood (Dewsbury)