St Helens v Wigan - six classic encounters
Friday 25 March 2016 15:08, UK
It wouldn't be an Easter weekend without Rugby League, especially in Lancashire as Wigan and St Helens prepare to square off for the first time this season.
The derby traditionally puts the 'Good' in Good Friday, but you might find Easter spirit in short supply at Langtree Park.
The Warriors and the Saints always serve up affairs tastier than your Easter Sunday roast however, and if that doesn't whet your appetite then check out six previous Super League Good Friday classics below…
Wigan 12-14 St Helens - April 2, 1999
1999 was Wigan's last season at Central Park, and although the Warriors gave it a special derby send-off by beating their rivals later in the year, St Helens took the last Easter spoils at the famous stadium.
Wigan had a 100 per cent record that year going into the game and they took the lead when Greg Florimo went over. But two quick St Helens tries put the away side in front - Anthony Sullivan and Paul Atcheson both crossing.
Then, with 10 minutes to go, Wigan thought they'd snatched it when Danny Moore touched down to make it 12-10. But St Helens had the final say. And it was former Wigan star Kevin Iro who did the damage.
Bandaged and bloodied after an early injury the centre crashed over to steal the win.
Wigan 22-22 St Helens - April 13, 2001
A belter at the JJB Stadium saw the two sides share an early season point.
A fast paced start saw Sean Long and Kris Radlinksi trade early tries before Kevin Iro put the Saints in front. Wigan soon took control though, Steve Renouf crashing over twice in the left corner before Anthony Sullivan failed to deal with an Andy Farrell bomb, allowing Radlinksi to cross for his second.
Trailing 22-12, St Helens hit the comeback trail, Dwayne West going over with ten minutes to go. And then with the clock down to three, they levelled the game - Vila Matautia's offload bouncing somewhat fortuitously off Paul Sculthorpe's knee, allowing the stand-off to touch down.
The video referee pressed the T-R-Y button and bang in front of the sticks, Long added the two, snatching a point for St Helens.
Live First Utility Super League
Wigan 24-22 St Helens - April 18, 2003
Wigan supremo Stuart Raper called this derby the greatest win of his coaching career after a scratch Warriors side produced a stirring recovery to inflict a fourth successive defeat on St Helens.
Injury robbed Raper of nine first team players, forcing him to hand debuts to four academy players while Ian Millward's side were at full strength.
And it looked like a routine victory for the Saints as they roared into a 22-12 lead at half time, thanks to two tries from Darren Albert and one each for Micky Higham and Jason Hooper.
But that was it for St Helens as Wigan produced a stunning second half display. Shaun Briscoe got them back it in before a Danny Tickle penalty got Wigan to within two.
And they took the lead on the hour, Terry Newton burrowing over from dummy half to give Wigan a lead they never relinquished despite sustaining some serious pressure.
St Helens 21-21 Wigan - April 9, 2004
One of the feistiest Easter derbies in recent memory came at Knowsley Road in 2004.
A struggling Wigan were up against a Saints side in rampant form, unbeaten in Super League so far. And nothing at half-time suggested that would change - two tries from Lee Gilmour and Jon Wilkin ensured Ian Millward's side led 14-8.
But Mike Gregory got his side firing after the break and after an hour, a controversial try from Terry Newton made it 20-all.
With the game on a knife-edge, the tension boiled over after Newton and Wilkin traded punches at a ruck. That sparked a 26-man brawl that saw Saints' Samoan Dom Feaunati wade in with a few haymakers Ricky Hatton would be proud of, earning him a retrospective suspension.
After that all calmed down, Wigan thought they'd won it thanks to Andy Farrell's late drop goal. But Sean Long had the last laugh, landing his own one pointer with less than three minutes remaining. A few bruises on either side, but a point each.
St Helens 48-10 Wigan - April 14, 2006
St Helens were the dominant side in the 2006 competition and they sent an early warning to their rivals by posting a then-Super League record 48-10 win over their rivals. Wigan were in disarray, coach-less and astonishingly bottom of the table, having one won just one of their opening eight games.
And Saints just added to their misery at a sunny Knowsley Road. The result was never in doubt after Paul Sculthorpe crossed after just eight minutes. That was one of eight St Helens tries - who were 18-nil up at half-time.
Wigan did show spirit after the break through Chris Ashton's long range effort but four tries in 14 minutes, including two for Jason Hooper and one for both Ian Hardman and Leon Pryce, put the seal on a brilliant St Helens display.
Wigan 28-24 St Helens - April 22, 2011
A sell-out 24,000 turned up at the DW Stadium, expecting more from defending Champions Wigan, while St Helens were hoping for a fourth win in a row on enemy territory. And that looked the likely outcome after Jamie Foster's penalty put Saints in front with seven minutes to go.
It was harsh on Wigan, who had led 22-10 after two tries apiece from Josh Charnley and Pat Richards. But Saints came storming back, a comeback that included a first Super League try for a 19-year-old Tommy Makinson.
They didn't bank on the late drama though, as Wigan took the Easter spoils in the final minute - Liam Farrell crashing over from Paul Deacon's pass to claim victory.
