St Helens (4) 10
Tries: Gidley, Eastmond Goals: Eastmond

Wigan (6) 6
Tries: S Tomkins Goals: Richards

Eastmond's late try for St Helens proved crucial

Kyle Eastmond's converted try with three minutes left saw St Helens snatch victory from Wigan to stretch their lead at the top of the Super League.

The scrum-half slid in underneath the posts after Wigan looked to have done enough to hold on for the victory.

Matt Gidley had given Saints the lead after 10 minutes but Wigan went ahead on half-time when Sam Tomkins took advantage of a mistake by Francis Meli.

Both sides threatened at times but it was Eastmond who broke Wigan's hearts.

Wigan had come looking for their first win at Knowsley Road for almost six years and they were well in the game for long periods with their defence again looking strong.

After a fast-paced opening it was the home side who took the lead when a kick by Paul Wellens, back in the side after two weeks out with a broken hand, was blocked by Thomas Leuluai and the ball bounced straight into Gidley's hands to score.

Eastmond missed the conversion from out wide but after that both sides committed a host of errors in the tricky wet conditions.

606: DEBATE Well done to Wigan for their intensity, shame so many final passes went astray. And well done to Saints for (yet again) nicking it. Loinerhino

Saints had the bulk of possession but the Wigan defence held firm and the home side were dealt a blow when captain Keiron Cunningham was forced off in the first half with a knee injury.

Wigan also suffered an injury worry with Darrell Goulding suffering a dislocated shoulder.

But the Warriors hit back and grabbed the lead with the break looming when Meli and Wellens made a mess of Leuluai's kick and Tomkins got a hand to the ball just ahead of Wellens for a try which was confirmed by the video referee.

Pat Richards added the extras to give the Warriors a 6-4 interval lead.

Wigan's defence was tested again six minutes into the second half by Eastmond and with Cunningham returning to the field to help lift Saints, both sides stepped up the pace approaching the hour mark.

Amos Roberts and Sam Tomkins gave Wigan good field position but Leuluai's kick into the in-goal area was disappointing.

Shortly afterwards, Eastmond's high kick caused problems for the Wigan defence with Cameron Phelps knocking on.

Eastmond started to exert more influence on the game and he was stopped short of the line before Lee Gilmour knocked on with the line at his mercy.

But with Wigan sensing the chance of a famous win, the 20-year-old Eastmond broke through a tackle and slid over - despite attention from Paul Prescott, adding the goal to secure the win.

St Helens coach Mick Potter (on Kyle Eastmond):

"He's very quick, very elusive and showed what he can do when he takes the line on.

"He's got other things he needs to work on, but taking on the line is not one of them. He's got some promise, hasn't he?

"It was a good score at the right time. It didn't leave them much time to come back, and sometimes that's the way to do it."

Wigan coach Brian Noble:

"It was a bit of a kick in the guts at the end there. But I have to say our effort and defence were great, as were Saints'. I thought we certainly deserved something from the game.

"We didn't quite finish them off when we had a bit of pressure at their end in the second half, but I am certainly proud of the players again.

"I just thought we needed one more score, because St Helens will always keep going. We have seen that over the years."

St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Gilmour, Meli, Pryce, Eastmond, Graham, Cunningham, Puletua, Wilkin, Flannery, Dixon.
Replacements: Clough, Ashurst, Armstrong, Emmitt.

Wigan: Phelps, Roberts, Gleeson, Carmont, Richards, S. Tomkins, Leuluai, Coley, Riddell, Prescott, Hansen, J. Tomkins, Flanagan.
Replacements: Goulding, Fielden, Paleaaesina, Mossop.

Referee: B Thaler (Wakefield)

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