St Helens (6) 22
Tries: Lomax, Eastmond, Cunningham, Meli Goals: Eastmond 3

Wakefield (12) 16
Tries: Morton, Millard 2 Goals: Brough 2

Cunningham insisted on playing despite the recent death of his mother

St Helens veteran Kieron Cunningham marked his 500th career appearance with a try to help edge out battling Wakefield Wildcats.

The visitors tackled relentlessly and took the lead with back-to-back tries from Dale Morton and Daryl Millard.

Jonny Lomax struck before half time, and then Kyle Eastmond, Cunningham and Francis Meli scored after the break as Saints edged in front.

Wildcats hit back as Millard grabbed a second for a thrilling finish.

The first half was characterised by Wakefield's poor handling and stout defending as they nullified an impressive opening from Saints.

And Sean Gleeson's break on a Wakefield fifth tackle was ended by Morton to seal a 70-metre break against the run of play, Danny Brough added the extras.

Saints were rocked and Morton's try was swiftly followed by Millard's score after he won a foot race to Sam Obst's chip over. Brough again sent the ball between the uprights.

The back-to-back tries appeared to stun the home side and Wakefield nearly got a third as Glenn Morrison appeared to ground a Brough kick through but he was denied by the referee.

Saints hit back on 27 minutes when stand-off Leon Pryce shimmied and delivered a long pass out to Lomax who crossed the line, Eastmond converted.

The home side started the second half brightly and it was lit up when scrum-half Eastmond's turn of pace put him into space and he raced away for a brilliant individual try.

Cunningham ran in from short range for a trademark try on 49 minutes - his 169th for Saints - that gave them the lead for the first time.

Precision kicking from Eastmond pinned Wakefield back as Saints exerted huge pressure on the visitors and they suffered a blow when Brough, their playmaker, left the field with a head injury.

Saints eventually breached the dogged Wakefield defence again just before the hour as Kiwi Meli squeezed in the corner and Eastmond slotted a difficult conversion from the touchline.

But Wakefield hung on and cut the gap to six points when Millard latched onto a Ben Jefferies kick for his second try.

St Helens coach Mick Potter said: "It wasn't the prettiest game given the conditions and Wakefield made us work all the way.

"Both sides made too many errors but I'm very happy to be on the right side of the scoreboard.

"I think Keiron [Cunningham] just wants to get some normality back. It's pleasing to have him back.

"He showed his value to the team."

Wakefield coach John Kear said: "I thought we showed great spirit and resolution.

"Defensively we were very good but we killed ourselves with fundamental errors at vital times.

"There were some encouraging signs for us, even though we are disappointed with the scoreboard."

St Helens: Wellens, Lomax, Gidley, Wheeler, Meli, Pryce, Eastmond, Graham, Moore, Fozzard, Puletua, Clough, Roby.
Replacements: Ashurst, Cunningham, Hargreaves, Fa'asavalu.

Wakefield: Blaymire, Murphy, Millard, Gleeson, Morton, Jeffries, Brough, Tronc, Obst, Korkidas, Morrison, Demetriou, Leo-Latu.
Replacements: Henderson, Davey , Moore, Ferguson.

Att: 10,717.

Ref: T Alibert (Toulouse).

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