HURRELL UP
PAUL WELLENS saluted his side’s cool heads as St Helens ended champions Wigan’s 15-game winning run in Super League.
They struck late to beat their 12-man rivals, who had not lost in the league since last July.
World Club champions Warriors were 4-2 ahead after Man-of-Steel Bevan French’s brilliant solo try in the 56th minute. But prop Liam Byrne, right, received a red card for a shoulder to Mark Percival’s head just seven minutes later. And England winger Tommy Makinson, back after missing the past two games injured, scored after a brilliant run from prop Alex Walmsley to nudge Saints ahead 6-4 in the 72nd minute.
Konrad Hurrell, right, sealed a sweet victory, thundering over with the final play to send the elated hosts top. Wellens, who lost England stars Percival and Joe Batchelor to second-half HIAs, said: “There’s a ferocity to these games – a chaos at times – and emotions are riding high given the importance of it. Sometimes it comes down to fine margins – and it did today.
“It took until the back end to score those tries, which was really pleasing on our part. Two teams have to contribute to a hotly-fought contest and Wigan were outstanding today.” The only side who Wigan had not defeated in that stellar run was Saints. And in a typically high-class derby, their arch-rivals made sure they did not equal their own record of 16 set in 2008.
The contest first blew up when Wigan’s Tyler Dupree led with a forearm against fellow England prop Matty Lees in the 28th minute. Lees’ head rocked back in the tackle and Dupree must have feared a red card. But referee Chris Kendall only showed yellow. It set the stage for a bruising showdown.
Wigan coach Matt Peet said: “I’m disappointed to lose any game, but particularly on a Good Friday, which means a lot to us all.”
ST HELENS – Tries: Makinson, Hurrell. Con: Lomax. Pen: Percival. WIGAN – Try: French.