Saints deny brave Warriors

St Helens ruined Martin Gleeson's Wigan debut with a hard-fought 19-12 victory over a battling Warriors outfit at the JJB Stadium.

Tries from Matt Gidley and Leon Pryce in the space of three second-half minutes settled a thrilling local derby in the favour of the visitors.

Gleeson, who arrived from Warrington for a six-figure fee on Monday, was unable to stop his new side slipping to a fourth loss on home soil in 2009.

Shaun Ainscough bagged a try in each half, both times his efforts giving the hosts the upper hand in a tremendous Thursday night tussle.

Unbeaten run

However, Saints refused to go away, battling back to extend their unbeaten regular-season run to 25 games and move to the top of the table.

The crucial period came around the hour mark, firstly with Gidley diving over on the right to level matters straight after Wigan had gone 12-6 ahead.

Before anyone had the chance to catch a breath the crucial try came, a blunder by Amos Roberts in attempting to deal with Jon Wilkin's up-and-under allowing Pryce to get his 50th, and possibly easiest, try for Saints.

Kyle Eastmond landed both conversions before putting the final nail in Wigan's coffin with a well-struck drop goal from long range in the last minute.

Defeat will be hard to take for Brian Noble's troops, particularly after they had dominated for long periods in the first half and then forced numerous sets of six in a tremendous spell of pressure in the second.

Ainscough had given them a deserved lead after nine minutes, the winger getting on the end of Thomas Leuluai's grubber in the left corner.

Within two minutes Saints were level, though, a horrendous home error in failing to deal with the re-start leading to Keiron Cunningham bull-dozing his way over.

All square

Paul Wellens succeeded where Roberts had earlier failed with the conversion, though the latter's penalty late on in the half made it six apiece at the break.

Just as they had in the opening 40 minutes Wigan pressed hard after the break, at one stage forcing their opponents to make 34 successive tackles.

Eventually the pressure paid off, Ainscough getting the benefit of any doubt over whether he had gone into touch before diving over in at the left flag.

Roberts' conversion made it 12-6 but the Warriors fans did not get to laud it over their rivals for too long, Saints striking back in fine fashion to make sure they continued their dominance over the near-neighbours.