Magic Wigan stun Saints

Wigan inflicted a second successive defeat on Super League leaders St Helens, as they handed out a comprehensive 38-18 beating to their derby rivals at Murrayfield.

For once, the Magic Weekend was just that for the Warriors as they avenged two defeats at the Millennium Stadium by St Helens by producing their best performance of the season.

Wigan were quicker, strong and more alert than Saints, as they enjoyed their biggest derby win for six years in front of a crowd just short of 30,000 in Edinburgh.

Sean O'Loughlin, Pat Richards and Gareth Hock put Wigan 18-0 ahead inside half an hour, before Saints grabbed the first of their three tries through Sean Long.

Joel Tomkins and Thomas Leuluai went over for the Warriors before Leon Pryce and Paul Wellens responded, but Richards grabbed a second try, to go along with his 14 points from the boot, to seal an emphatic win for Brian Noble's men.

Skipper strikes

Wigan skipper O'Loughlin went over for the game's first score after only seven minutes, before then turning provider with a pinpoint kick to the corner for Richards to touch down after outpacing Ade Gardner.

Richards added both conversions and Wigan second-rower Hock then forced his way through to make it even better for the Warriors with a third try after 29 minutes.

Long sparked a brief fightback six minutes before the break when his grubber kick took a wicked deflection off Leuluai enabling Long to touch down.

Sam Tomkins then made the break that set up the position for older brother Joel to score a fourth try on the stroke of half-time to give Saints some hope.

However, Wigan extended their lead two minutes into the second half when Richards kicked a fifth goal to make it 26-6 after James Roby was penalised for interference.

Hopes ended

A fifty try for Wigan two minutes later ended any hope of Saints getting back into the game when Phelps released Richards up the wing and Leuluai was in support to score.

Mick Potter's men added a touch of respectability to the scoreline when Pryce and Wellens went over, but Richards made sure Wigan had the final say as he went over for his second try and maintained his perfect kicking record with the conversion to take his personal haul to 22 points.

The second defeat on the spin will be a worry for Potter, especially with the manner in which they were outfought at every angle by their fierce rivals.

Wigan's revival continues, meanwhile, and such a big win over Saints will be a big boost for the rest of the season at the JJB.