Wigan win derby thriller
Pat Richards scored two second-half tries as champions Wigan claimed their first home win over St Helens in four attempts.
Last Updated: 22/04/11 8:59pm
Pat Richards scored two second-half tries to help Super League champions Wigan claim a thrilling 28-24 derby victory over St Helens.
Saints looked set for a fourth straight win at the DW Stadium after battling back from 22-10 down after an hour, before edging ahead through winger Jamie Foster's penalty goal seven minutes from time.
But the Warriors snatched the spoils with the last play of the match when substitute forward Liam Farrell went over for a fifth try, to the delight of a majority of the 24,000-sell-out crowd.
Gary Wheeler, a third-choice stand-off in the absence of Leon Pryce and Lee Gaskell, played an important role in Saints' impressive opening, along with England duo James Roby and James Graham.
Saints duly went in front on 13 minutes when second rower Sia Soliola put Wheeler through a hole in the home defence and England centre Michael Shenton crossed wide out.
The visitors extended their lead on 26 minutes, with Foster using an overlap to cross from centre Francis Meli's pass after Wigan's Joel Tomkins had come out of the line attempting an interception.
The older Tomkins made amends four minutes before half-time when he sent winger Josh Charnley over for Wigan's first try, after brother Sam had cleverly switched the point of attack to stretch the Saints defence.
The visitors were exposed out wide once more early in the second half, with George Carmont sending 2010 Man of Steel Richards over for his first try of the season.
And Wigan took the lead for the first time when the Tomkins brothers again combined to get Charnley over for his second try.
On a roll
With Richards landing conversions from both touchlines, the champions were on a roll and the Ireland international was quick to cash in on Saints' disarray by scoring his second try after a break from Carmont.
Wigan were firmly in control when Richards kicked his third goal to make it 22-10 after 55 minutes, but this rollercoaster of a game had another couple of twists in it yet.
Meli fashioned a second try for Foster, who kicked the touchline conversion to cut the gap to six points, and he levelled the scores on 68 minutes when converting Tommy Makinson's try, which was set up by Puletua.
Foster then maintained his composure to edge his side in front with seven minutes to go with a penalty, after Carmont dropped on a loose ball in an offside position.
The Warriors launched a ferocious assault on the Saints' line and James Graham pulled off a flying tackle to halt Sam Tomkins' mazy run.
But with time expired, substitute Farrell found a gap in the defensive line to cross for the winning try and Richards added a fourth goal.
