Saints thwart gritty Warriors to extend winning run

The Warriors were dealt a devastating blow with the early loss of Great Britain prop Stuart Fielden with concussion but they rallied to run the leaders close in a tense, hard-fought clash at Knowsley Road.

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Fielden could be doubtful for next week's Challenge Cup semi-final against Catalans Dragons while Saints were handed a potential disciplinary headache when hooker Keiron Cunningham was put on report for an alleged swinging arm on Wigan full-back Pat Richards.

Saints looked set to continue their derby domination after tries from Jason Cayless and Francis Meli gave them a 10-0 lead after 12 minutes but Wigan gradually clawed their way back into contention.

Full-back Richards struck in the last play of the first half to keep the match in the balance and the champions were forced to defend for long periods before securing a precious victory courtesy of a late drop goal from comeback hero Sean Long.

Saints coach Daniel Anderson, who has yet to experience defeat in a derby, had cheekily suggested Wigan were the pre-match favourites after beating Leeds and Bradford in their two previous matches but it looked like mind games after his side made an impressive start.

The game was held up for four-and-a-half minutes while Fielden received treatment on the field after knocking himself out trying to stop a typical strong run from St Helens front rower Nick Fozzard.

Fielden's replacement Paul Prescott then hobbled off after 17 minutes, by which time Wigan were trailing 10-0 and looking in some disarray.

Saints opened the scoring after seven minutes with a rare try from prop Cayless, who took a pass from Cunningham to plunge over the line after Leon Pryce had scooped up a loose ball on the Wigan 20-metre line.

Makeshift marksman Paul Wellens added the easy conversion and the champions stretched their lead five minutes later when Cunningham supported James Roby's clean break and sent winger Meli over for a try to celebrate his new three-year contract.

Long, who started the match on the bench, went on after 24 minutes for only his second appearance in 10 weeks and eight minutes later Australian loose forward Chris Flannery, who was making a comeback from a broken leg, went on for his debut.

Wigan's only serious threat came from the boot of stand-off Trent Barrett and neither Saints winger never looked comfortable under the high ball.

The home defence lived dangerously until the last minute of the half when Richards read Barrett's kick to perfection to touch down under the crossbar, despite a suspicion of a knock-on.

Richards added the goal to cut the deficit to just four points and he almost scored again in the opening moments but video referee Ian Smith this time ruled he failed to ground the ball.

Long was wide with an ambitious 45-metre penalty kick at goal but then succeeded with a 40-20 punt that set up the position for St Helens' third try.

Pryce was quick to seize on possession when Wigan captain Sean O'Loughlin lost the ball in Flannery's crunching tackle 20 metres from his own line and the stand-off jinked his way unopposed to the line.

Long kicked the conversion and added a penalty on the hour to make it 18-6 after Wigan's former Saints hooker Micky Higham was pulled up for a high tackle on James Graham.

Richards added to Wigan's injury woes when he was involved in a clash with Keiron Cunningham and had to be helped from the field, although he managed to return for the last 12 minutes.

Wigan battled to the end and centre Darrell Goulding ensured a tense finish when he grabbed a 66th-minute try courtesy of another Barrett "bomb" and O'Loughlin landed the difficult conversion.

Long was twice off target with drop-goal attempts before eventually finding the mark to seal victory.