Wigan Warriors welcomed St. Helens for the latest instalment in the worlds oldest derby and with the Super Eights being just around the corner both sides were desperate for the two points.

Wigan needed the points to keep up the pressure on Hull FC who kicked off against Salford Red Devils at the same time. A win for Saints would see them into the top four, at least until the Dragons last game of the first phase of rounds at Widnes on Sunday.

Saints were unchanged from last weeks winning side but Wigan had John Bateman returning after a long club instigated suspension, but skipper Shaun O'Loughlin, and full-back Sam Tomkins, were back in the starting line up as over twenty thousand crammed into the DW Stadium.

St Helens took a fourth minute opportunity to kick a penalty through Mark Percival after Sam Tomkins had fouled on his own line.

On ten minutes Wigan got the games first four pointer when Lewis Tierney dived on a George Williams grubber to ground in the corner. Matty Smith slid the conversion attempt wide of the uprights.

On twenty-three Mark Percival added another penalty after a dangerous tackle by Willie Isa.

Saints first try of the game came on thirty-two when Mark Percival added to his two penalty goals. Wigan's Bateman got a hand in at the play-the-ball and knocked on, allowing Lomax to pick up the loose ball and put Percival through a gap to round behind the Warriors defence. Percival added the extras for 10-4 to Saints.

Two minutes before the interval and Saints put themselves in the driving seat. Jordan Turner put in a grubber kick which was knocked on by Sam Tomkins and collected by Morgan Knowles to dive over the line. When Percival added the extras, Saints had a 16-4 lead going into the interval.

With the second half eight minutes old it looked like Sam Tomkins has slid his way to the line but after a consultation with the video referee the try was ruled out as Joe Greenwood managed to keep his hand under the ball and prevent the grounding.

On seventy Saints Jack Owens dragged Lewis Tierney into touch as he looked almost certain to score in the corner.

Despite Wigan throwing everything they had at Saints, the first points of the second half came on seventy-two when Luke Walsh kicked a forty metre drop goal to extend Saints lead to three tries, at thirteen points.

On seventy-four all hell broke loose with two mass brawls occurring simultaneously. Wigan's Frank-Paul Nuuausala and Saints Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook were both shown yellow cards and their evenings work was over.

Fifty seconds from the end of the game and James Roby went through a big gap in a tiring Warriors defence to go twenty metres and score under the sticks. Percival added the extras for a big 23-4 win.

This was a big win for Saints and another dent in Wigan's quest for the minor premiership. It was a real defensive battle and at times it got pretty ugly. Wigan's only points of the game came in the eleventh minute, but try as they might they couldn't breach a superb Saints defence. Saints took their chances and more than deserved the win.

Warriors: Tomkins, Tierney (T), Sarginson, Gildart, Manfredi, Williams, Smith, Sutton, Powell, Flower, Bateman, Isa, O'Loughlin. Subs: Crosby, Nuuausala (SB), Shorrocks, Mossop.

Saints: Lomax, Owens, Fleming, Percival (T, 5G), Swift, Turner, Walsh (DG), Walmsley, Roby (T), Richards, McCarthy-Scarsbrook (SB), Greenwood, Wilkin. Subs: Amor, Vea, Thompson, Knowles (T).

Referee: Phil Bentham.

Attendance: