The original derby, Wigan versus St Helens, was the second game of the Magic Weekend and there was plenty at stake for a Warriors side looking to bounce back from last weeks drubbing at the hands of Leeds Rhinos and return to the top of the table against a Saints side who needed the win to further their case for the top six.
Wigan were without Harry Smith who picked up a three-game suspension last week with Adam Keighran moving into the halves, but it was a Saints side which has been decimated by injuries and who came into the game looking very under strength.
Wigan were slight favourites with the bookies, but St Helens were only given a four-point start on the coupon, it promised to be a close game.
Liam Farrell was a late withdrawal after pulling his calf muscle in the warmup and caused Matt Peet to move Sam Walters into the starting line-up.
It was a scrappy opening from both sides with the deadlock finally broken on sixteen minutes with Liam Marshall taking a long Adam Keighran miss-out pass to run down the left wing and round closer to the posts to make Keighran’s conversion a simple one for a 6-0 lead.
Three minutes later and the lead was doubled with Jack Farrimond chasing his own kick to collect and go over by the right upright to give Keighran another simple conversion for a 12-0 lead, Saints now being blitzed as Wigan had the momentum.
Harry Robertson was held up short on twenty-four after a great break to the Wigan line showing some delightful footwork, some hope for Saints.
Saints conceded a penalty with a minute of the half remaining after interfering at the play the ball and Keighran added another couple of points to the half time lead, Saints now needing to score three times in the second half.
On fifty-five a high tackle by Kaide Ellis sin binned and the Warriors reduced to twelve men for a crucial ten-minute period. New hope for Saints.
On the hour, Matt Whitley should have registered the opening points for Saints but lost the ball in the tackle on the Wigan line as he tried to offload, a great Robertson tackle denying the second rower.
On sixty-eight Liam Marshall went over and grounded but the referee ruled a forward last pass from Jake Wardle.
Five minutes from time Sam Walters extinguished any remaining doubts when he collected an Abbas Miski grubber kick towards the uprights to spin out of a tackle and force the ball to ground under the tackle. Keighran added the conversion from close to the sticks for a 20-0 win for the Cherry and Whites.
Wigan are back on the top of the table, two points clear of Hull KR, who have still to play in their own Magic Weekend fixtures. Matt Peet will me delighted with the win but even more delighted that his side held Saints a bay for the full eighty minutes to inflict yet another defeat on a beleaguered Wellens outfit who are drifting periilously close to dropping out of the play-offs.
Wigan Warriors: Field, Miski, Eckersley, Wardle, Marshall (T), Farrimond (T), Keighran (4/4 G), Havard, Leeming, Thompson, Nsemba, Walters (T), Ellis (SB on 55). Subs: Mago, Forber, Byrne, Dupree. 18th Man: Hill.
St Helens: Robertson, Makinson, Blake, Batchelor, Ritson, Davies, Mbye, Delaney, Bell, Lees, Whitley, Sironen, Paasi. Subs: Walmsley, Burns, Vaughan, Stephens. 18th Man: Bennison.
Half-Time: 14-0.
Full-Time: 20-0.
Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, 10-0, 12-0, 14-0 : HT: (SB), 18-0, 20-0 :FT.
Lead Exchanges: Wigan.
Referee: Jack Smith.
