Cunningham was in impressive form for Saints

St Helens recorded their 15th straight victory with an eight-try demolition of 12-man derby rivals Wigan.

Wigan's Michael McIlorum was sent off in the fifth minute and the league leaders took full advantage, racing to a 22-6 half-time lead.

Lee Gilmour, Keiron Cunningham, James Roby, Ade Gardner (2), Jon Wilkin, Matt Gidley and Sean Long all crossed the whitewash for Saints.

Thomas Leuluai and Mickey Higham tries were mere consolation for Wigan.

The hosts had no-one to match the inventiveness of Long, who kicked six goals from seven to add to his try, or the power of Cunningham as, in dreadful conditions, the visitors gave a masterclass performance.

Saints last lost a Super League match in April, when they were defeated 30-24 by Castleford at The Jungle, so Wigan knew they had a difficult task before them.

606: DEBATE In dry conditions the Saints would have hit the century mark TO S-T

Gilmour barged through two Wigan tackles to score in the visitors' first attack and then McIlorum was deservedly dismissed for a reckless high tackle on Gardner.

Cunningham showed his strength by diving low from a meter out to double the lead, but a spirited Wigan halved the deficit when Leuluai crossed, with Cameron Phelps converting.

However, any hope of a fightback ended when Wigan conceded a penalty 10m from their line and Roby dived over in the 29th minute.

The floodgates then broke when Gareth Hock lost the ball and Saints quickly moved the wide for Gardner to score his 22nd Super League try of the season.

Long, making his 300th appearance for the Saints, missed the conversion but at 22-6 going into the break victory was all but assured.

Wilkin and Gidley both scored quickly in the second half, with Long's boot making it 34-6, and then a superb off-load from Leon Pryce sent Long over.

Quick passing along the line gave Gardner his second try before Higham crossed late on, with Phelps converting.

St Helens coach Daniel Anderson:

"It was a very professional job. We had to adjust to the wet conditions but I thought we kicked really well.

"Sean Long was in very good control of our game. To play 300 games is a tremendous achievement and it was well recognised."

New Zealand Test prop Jason Cayless came through his comeback from a knee injury unscathed, and Anderson added: "That was a huge bonus. He only started training on Monday but he did a very good job."

Wigan coach Brian Noble:

"I'm disappointed about the sending-off. It was the first minute of the game and there was a bit of a delay before the red card came out. We need to find out why there was a delay.

"It spoiled the game a little bit. It's difficult enough to play that team with 13 men so with 12 it's a tough ask.

"We showed good effort at times, but we just invited St Helens into our half too many times and when the players look at the tape, they will be disappointed with some of the tries they conceded."

Wigan: Mathers, Colbon, Goulding, Carmont, Phelps, Barrett, Leuluai, Fielden, McIlorum, Coley, Hansen, J. Tomkins, Hock.
Replacements: Higham, Paleaaesina, O'Carroll, Mossop.

St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Talau, Meli, Pryce, Long, Graham, Cunningham, Hargreaves, Gilmour, Wilkin, Sculthorpe.
Replacements: Roby, Cayless, Flannery, Fa'asavalu.

Referee: A Klein (London)