Wigan Warriors' hopes of moving to the top of the Super League took a blow this evening as St Helens pulled off a 22-16 win in a close encounter.
© PA Photos
The hosts took the lead after just 10 minutes when Adam Swift touched down in the corner, with Gareth O'Brien adding the extras from the touchline.
The duo combined to double the Saints' lead shortly afterwards with the video referee confirming Swift's second try of the match.
Wigan pulled one back when Pat Richards took advantage of a penalty to go over, although he could not convert his own try.
The video referee was called into action once again right on the stroke of half time, and this time he decided in favour of Wigan as he awarded Josh Charnley's try.
Richards could not add the extras from the touchline, however, sending St Helens into the break with a 12-8 lead.
The game swung in a matter of minutes shortly after the break as Joe Greenwood was denied a try for the hosts by the video referee, allowing Charnley to go up the other end and touch down for his second of the night.
Thomas Makinson levelled things at 14-14 with a penalty before Richards struck a drop goal from near the touchline in his own half to put Wigan 15-14 up.
There was more drama late on as Blake Green was sin-binned, allowing Jordan Turner to score a penalty that restored the Saints' one-point lead. This was pegged back again, however, as Matty Smith hit a drop goal to level the scores.
St Helens sealed the points with a try just two minutes from time as Greenwood touched down following a fine Makinson break.
Barney Corkhill
