Saints keep Wolves at bay

Eastmond: Perfect with the boot

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Warrington's hopes of ending their Knowsley Road hoodoo were booted into touch by Kyle Eastmond as St Helens triumphed 28-18 in a thrilling derby.

Both sides managed four tries apiece but it was Eastmond's six goals from as many attempts that clinched the two points for Saints.

The hosts had led 20-4 but were forced to weather a fierce comeback from their near-neighbours, who scored three tries in the space of seven minutes.

However the Wolves fell short in the end, meaning they have still not managed a Super League win at the current home of their rivals and now never will, as Saints are due to move to a new stadium after this season.

Perfect record

Eastmond's kicking in the end proved the difference, though the scrum-half showed he was just as dangerous with ball in hand inside five minutes.

The England international produced some electrifying footwork to cut through the Warrington defence and break the deadlock with a stunning solo try.

From then on defences dominated in the opening half, the game becoming a physical battle played out in front of a sell-out 17,500 crowd.

The Wolves did eventually find a way through their hosts on the half-hour mark, Simon Grix, filling in for the injured Lee Briers, slicing his way to the line.

Saints responded with a try from Jon Wilkin, though the forward was somewhat fortunate to get on the end of his own grubber kick as the ball took a wicked deflection off the legs of Warrington winger Chris Riley.

Despite the loss of full-back Paul Wellens, Mick Potter's troops came out all guns blazing after the break to move well clear.

Eastmond, who took over from the injured Wellens in a back-line reshuffle, capitalised on Richie Mathers' inability to deal with his up-and-under to set up Ade Gardner for an easy run-in out wide.

The touchline conversion from the scrum-half was followed up by a penalty and with a 16-point lead, St Helens seemed in complete control.

Comeback bid

Warrington, however, refused to go away without a fight. Matt King raised hopes of a comeback with his seventh try of 2010 before Ben Harrison capitalised on Gardner's failure to deal with Michael Monaghan's kick.

Chris Hicks then worked his way over out wide but the inability of Chris Bridge to add more than the one conversion meant the Wolves still trailed.

Saints gave themselves some breathing space with Gardner's second of the night, quick hands from Tony Puletua and Matt Gidley setting up the winger.

Eastmond landed the conversion from out wide and then sealed the result in the final minute with a penalty, taking his personal haul to 16 points.