Saints dominate derby clash

St Helens have scored a 46-10 victory in their derby match against Wigan at Knowsley Road, the home side running in nine tries to seal a result which places them third in the Super League table.

The rivals may have been level on points ahead of the match but there was nothing even about a match which saw Daniel Anderson's side dominate in most every aspect of the game.

Saints were 22-0 up at half time - a scoreline which fully reflected the degree to which Wigan were at sixes and sevens defensively.

Things were a little better for the Warriors going forward - Iafeta Paleaaesina in particular looking up for the contest - but the truth was that the home side gave them very little of the ball.

Wigan briefly showed more fight in the second half but soon reverted to type as their opponents ran in five more tries to leave visiting fans streaming for the exit long before the final hooter.

Saints controlled possession early on and should have gone ahead after five minutes when, Wigan having strayed offside close to their own line, a pass from Jon Wilkin set up Matt Gidley - the centre instead knocking on in the right-hand corner.

A try-saving tackle from Pat Richards denied a breaking Lee Gilmour three minutes later and, with Willie Talau then falling inches short on the last tackle, Saints were having difficulty turn possession into points.

Blind throw

But Talau was not to be denied and finished off a break started by Wilkin up the middle after 12 minutes - the centre accepting a blind throw over his right shoulder from Leon Pryce before touching down.

The returning Sean Long could not tame the strong wind but did convert a penalty after 15 minutes to put Saints 6-0 ahead.

And Gidley more than made up for his earlier mistake when he then accepted a pass from Mike Bennett, dipped his shoulder and ploughed through two challenges for his first try of the season on 18 minutes.

Long's conversion bounced off the crossbar but matters soon worsened for Wigan: the sin-binning of Mickey Higham for repeated offside infractions being followed by James Graham scoring Saints' third.

Long this time converted, with the fourth coming after Stuart Fielden knocked on deep in Wigan territory - Paul Wellens going over by the posts on the first play.

Another conversion from Long made it 22-0 with the half-hour finally seeing inroads from the visitors - Phil Bailey touching down after Francis Meli failed to deal with a high cross-field kick.

However, Meli was adjudged to have been tackled in the air by Darrell Goulding and St Helens were instead awarded the penalty.

Saints were therefore in control at half time but Wigan finally got the break they needed at the start of the second period - a penalty prompting Paleaaesina to again storm forward, with replacement Michael McIlorum going over.

Sean O'Loughlin converted and Wigan continued to demonstrate greater wherewithal over the next 10 minutes.

Normal service

However, normal service was resumed when Warriors winger Liam Colbon failed to ground the ball following a chip through and Long pounced for his own first of the season.

He also found the target with the conversion and was instrumental in Saints' sixth try, his looping leftward pass on the last play missing two players - but finding Meli in the left-hand corner.

Long this time missed but a fine individual effort from Pryce - who sold a dummy before beating three challenges - on 64 minutes moved the home side's advantage out to 30 points.

Wellens was beaten by the wind and, heading into the last 10 minutes, Wigan were beaten full-stop. Nevertheless, a well-taken try from George Carmont - converted by O'Loughlin - acted as consolation.

Yet there was still more to come from St Helens, with a break from Ade Gardner being finished off by Meli for his second with three minutes remaining.

Kyle Eastmond converted and the 18-year-old then embarked on a 40-yard run to touch down and complete the rout.