Eastmond score saves Saints

A try three minutes from time by Kyle Eastmond dashed Wigan's hopes of their first win at Knowsley Road for six years and ended the Warriors' five-game winning streak.

Wigan looked set to hang on for a gutsy victory over their fiercest rivals after Sam Tomkins' opportunistic try on half-time and Pat Richards' conversion edged them ahead 6-4 at the break.

The scores remained the same throughout an error-strewn and tension-drenched second stanza, before the livewire Eastmond evaded two would-be tacklers and slid in under the Wigan sticks.

Handling conditions were difficult in the rain, and Wigan were presented with an early opportunity after Ade Gardner knocked on a towering Thomas Leuluai kick.

Wigan spread play all the way across the line, but the chance was lost as Amos Roberts overran a Cameron Phelps pass.

Despite the weather, Saints played at their usual tempo and claimed the lead after 10 minutes as a Paul Wellens kick deflected off Leuluai and sat up for Matt Gidley to score.

Leuluai, who had been sliding in to cut out the play, went close to responding with a try moments later - but knocked on close to the line.

Chris Flannery was stopped just short after one strong run, and Leuluai cheekily nipped in to steal the ball from Gidley at the play-the-ball.

Wigan suffered a blow as Darrell Goulding was helped off after hurting himself in a tackle, and Cunningham had earlier limped off for Saints.

Let-off

The hosts had a let-off when Mark Flanagan found a gap but failed to find Tomkins with his pass.

Saints did not heed the warning, however, because Francis Meli spilled a Leuluai kick on the stroke of half time and Sam Tomkins was the quickest to react, beating Wellens to the ball and touching down.

Saints started the second half with purpose as Jake Emmitt and Eastmond both got to within inches of the Wigan line.

Cunningham also made a welcome return to the field as Saints looked to force their way back ahead.

Yet Wigan remained firm and enjoyed more good possession.

One counter-attack sparked by a Roberts break and a Tomkins charge almost got through, and Harrison Hansen was stopped short.

Relief

Saints withstood a heavy spell of pressure and got some relief after Phelps knocked on from an Eastmond bomb.

Eastmond then drove to the line and won a penalty, but Saints declined the chance to level the scores with 13 minutes remaining and ran from the

set-piece.

That proved costly, as Lee Gilmour knocked on with the line at his mercy.

Saints came again, with an Eastmond kick bouncing dangerously behind the line, before Sam Tomkins got back to hook it clear.

Wigan must have sensed that they had done enough to hold out for a famous win, but the defence fatally hung back on the fifth tackle of yet another Saints set and Eastmond broke through and slid over, before adding the goal himself.