Wigan 22 (18) Tries: Tickle, Radlinski, Dallas Goals: Tickle (5) St Helens 20 (20) Tries: Cunningham (2), Lyon, Wilkin Goals: Lyon (2)

Danny Tickle and Kris Radlinski gave Wigan a 12-0 lead after seven minutes before Kieron Cunningham hit back.

Brett Dallas scored again for the Warriors before Saints scored three tries in five minutes, Jamie Lyon, Jon Wilkie and Cunningham touching down.

But Tickle kicked two second-half penalties to win the game for Wigan.

Wigan caught the visitors cold, Tickle taking a pass from full-back Radlinski to touch down on five minutes and returning the favour for Radlinski to score two minutes later.

Without Terry Newton on the field, I don't think we would have won - he really stood up Wigan coach Denis Betts

Tickle added both goals and converted a clinical 20th-minute try from winger Brett Dallas after centre David Vaealiki had made the most of a speculative pass from hooker Terry Newton.

Saints, without injured captain Paul Sculthorpe, hit back when Cunningham crashed over from close range before Jamie Lyon converted.

Wigan were good value for their 18-6 lead but the game was turned on its head by a Saints scoring burst of 14 points before the interval.

A midfield break by loose forward Jon Wilkin paved the way for Lyon to cross on 27 minutes and Wilkin made the most of a break by substitute Mark Edmondson to grab his first try of the season.

Sean Long then set up Cunningham for his second try of the match, and Lyon's second conversion edged his side 20-18 in front.

A great game and fantastic commitment from the injured Wigan players From Joolsvil Have your say on Five Live

In contrast to the first-half points bonanza, the second half became a war of attrition.

Tickle kicked his fourth goal to level the scores on 53 minutes but Wigan's Sean O'Loughlin was carried off on a stretcher a minute later.

A draw looked likely until St Helens substitute James Graham strayed offside in front of his own posts.

Tickle added the goal to restore his side's lead and Wigan were forced to defend desperately in the final seconds to extend their unbeaten run against St Helens in Super League to nine matches.

The speed of the game was amazing. Both teams were special Saints coach Ian Millward

However, Wigan's joy was tempered by a clutch of injuries to key players.

Loose forward O'Loughlin will have X-rays to determine the extent of a knee injury, while coach Denis Betts will also check on the fitness of Kevin Brown (ankle), Danny Sculthorpe (rib) and Wayne Godwin (blurred vision) before naming his squad for Monday's trip to Hull.

Saints were also in the wars, with Lyon taken to hospital with suspected heat-stroke and Edmondson given oxygen in the dressing room following the match.

Wigan: Radlinski, Dallas, Wild, Vaealiki, Aspinwall, Brown, Orr, Seuseu, Newton, Guisset, Tickle, Hansen, O'Loughlin.
Replacements: Godwin, Sculthorpe, Allen, Beswick