Wigan Warriors 28 St Helens 24: match report
Read a full match report of the Super League match between Wigan Warriors and St Helens at the DW Stadium on Friday April 22, 2011.
In form: Patb Richards (centre) scored two tries as Wigan Warriors claimed a 28-24 victory over St Helens Photo: ACTION IMAGES
By Telegraph staff and agencies 5:16PM BST 22 Apr 2011
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Reigning man of steel Pat Richards scored two second-half tries to help Super League champions Wigan pull off a breathtaking derby victory over a depleted St Helens in front of capacity crowd of 24,000 at the DW Stadium.
Saints looked to have overcome a glut of injuries when they fought back brilliantly from 22-10 down after an hour to draw level with the aid of 19-year-old Tommy Makinson's first Super League try.
And Royce Simmons' men were on course to take advantage of Huddersfield's shock defeat by Crusaders to take over at the top of the table when young winger Jamie Foster's penalty goal edged them in front seven minutes from the end.
But the Warriors snatched the spoils with the last play of an enthralling match when substitute forward Liam Farrell went over for a fifth try to seal Wigan's first derby triumph in front of their own fans since 2007.
The visitors went into the game without six regulars and lost full-back Paul Wellens and half-back Gary Wheeler through injury 30 minutes into the match when they led 10-0.
Wheeler, a third-choice stand-off in the absence of Leon Pryce and Lee Gaskell, had played an important role in Saints' impressive opening, along with England duo James Roby and James Graham.
It was Roby, who has enjoyed an immense start to the season, who came up with the first break of the match, but the chance went begging when Wellens could not take the final pass, while Graham made his presence felt with a thunderous tackle that flattened Wigan's Kiwi international Jeff Lima.
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 for the game's first try.
It was no surprise, either, when 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.
When the visitors were exposed out wide once more early in the second half, with George Carmont sending Richards over for his first try of the season, it was significant that vastly-experienced trio Wellens, Graham and Tony Puletua were all on the sidelines.
Graham was back in action shortly afterwards, but his first task was to deliver a rallying call behind the posts after the Tomkins brothers had yet again combined to get Charnley over for his second try, which put Wigan in front for the first time.
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.
When Richards kicked his third goal to make it 22-10 after 55 minutes, the game appeared over as a contest, but plucky Saints had other ideas.
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 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 goal after Carmont dropped on a loose ball in an offside position.
The drama continued right to the final whistle, however, with Graham pulling off a flying tackle to halt Sam Tomkins' mazy run and Richards twice going preciously close to completing a hat-trick.
Just when Saints looked to have weathered the storm, substitute Farrell found a chink in their defensive line to cross for the winning try and Richards added a fourth goal.
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