In a gripping Super League encounter, St Helens emerged victorious against a resilient but depleted Wigan Warriors side, securing a 12-4 win in a game filled with twists and turns.
The first half saw both teams locked in a tense battle, with Mark Percival’s penalty giving St Helens a narrow 2-0 lead at halftime. However, Wigan appeared to seize control early in the second half when Bevan French scored a sensational solo try, putting his team ahead.
But the game took a dramatic turn when Wigan’s Liam Byrne was shown a red card for a high challenge on Mark Percival, reducing Wigan to 12 men for the remainder of the match. St Helens capitalized on their numerical advantage, with late tries from Tommy Makinson and Konrad Hurrell sealing the win for the home side.
Despite Wigan’s valiant effort, playing almost half an hour with a man down proved to be a significant challenge. St Helens’ resilience and determination ultimately saw them emerge victorious, maintaining their unbeaten start to the season.
In the post-match interviews, St Helens head coach Paul Wellens praised his team’s response to adversity, highlighting the defensive efforts of Makinson and Hurrell. Meanwhile, Wigan head coach Matt Peet expressed disappointment at the result but acknowledged the challenges posed by the red card.
The match showcased the intensity and unpredictability of Super League rugby, leaving fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
Lineups: St Helens: Welsby; Makinson, Hurrell, Percival, Bennison; Lomax, Dodd; Walmsley, Clark, Lees, Whitley, Sironen, Knowles. Interchanges: Mata’utia, Batchelor, Mbye, Wingfield, Davies.
Wigan: Field; Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall; French, Smith; Byrne, O’Neill, Thompson, Isa, Farrell, Ellis. Interchanges: Mago, Dupree, Leeming, Nsemba, Hill.
Sin-bin: Dupree (29). Sent off: Byrne (64). Referee: Chris Kendall.
Credit: Portions inspired by BBC Sport
