St Helens 16 Wigan 16: Richards salvages pride as Wigan stand up to rivals

Wigan went part of the way towards spoiling their neighbours' party last night, as they contributed fully to a memorable derby in appalling conditions.

The Challenge Cup winners finished their week with their fourth League Leaders Shield in as many years, but for once they were given an almighty fight by Wigan, who led by 12 points just before half-time. Matt Gidley led Saints' fightback by scoring two tries and setting up another, but a long-range penalty from Pat Richards salvaged a draw and he could have won it for Wigan with a late drop goal attempt that skewed wide.

The visitors, heavily beaten three times by Saints so far this season, applied enough pressure to force four goal-line dropouts. Something else went in Wigan's favour when Iaseta Paleaaesina took out James Graham with a tackle off the ball. Saints got the penalty, but Graham who went to the sin bin for retaliation.

With Graham off the pitch Wigan finally made all their possession and their one-man advantage pay after 25 minutes when Trent Barrett found George Carmont, who hit the right angle to bounce out of Paul Wellens' tackle and get over the try line.

Just as Graham was preparing to come back on, Wigan struck again, with Barrett once more providing the pass for a determined runner, this time Joel Tomkins, with Pat Richards adding the second goal.

Saints got one back immediately before half-time when Matt Gidley squeezed over in the corner and was given the benefit of the doubt by the video referee.

Wigan stretched their lead with Richards' penalty soon after the break and a hint of panic began to creep into Saints' play. But they looked a little more relaxed after 52 minutes when Gidley's instant fingertip pass gave Ade Gardner room to touch down, with Sean Long landing another magnificent goal.

Saints at last hit the front just before the hour when Gidley got his second from Kyle Eastmond's pass. Francis Meli had a try disallowed that would have seen Saints home if not exactly dry and then Wigan opted to take a 41 metre offside penalty to tie the scores.

After Richards failed to add a clinching drop goal, Saints settled for a share of the last league points of the season, knowing that they will still go into the play-offs in first place.

St Helens: Wellens; Gardner, Gidley, Talau, Meli; Roby, Long; Fozzard, Cunningham, Graham, Gilmour, Flannery, Wilkin. Substitutes used: Hargreaves, Clough, Fa'asavalu, Eastmond.

Wigan: Mathers; Phelps, Goulding, Carmont, Richards; Barrett, Leuluai; Fielden, Higham, Coley, Hanson, Bailey, Tomkins. Substitutes used: Paleaaesina, Colbon, Prescott, Smith.

Referee: A Klein (Keighley).

Interesting? Click here to explore further