The oldest derby in the game was sold-out as Wigan Warriors faced St Helens as the teams in third and fourth spot, tied together on ten league points, went into battle for the chance to go into second spot ahead of Hull FC who lost out in the earlier Hull derby.

Wigan had been installed as favourites with the bookies, and they were handicapped by ten points on the coupon but with the rain falling steadily in front of a massive crowd, there was little to choose between the two sides with the conditions as a leveller.

Wigan have been victorious in the last two games between the sides, the last St Helens win was over a year ago in round six of 2024.

Alex Walmsley spilled the ball on five minutes and four plays in a strip n Sam Walters gifted Harry Smith a simple penalty goal to put his side two points ahead. It was clear that it was going to be a tight game, Wigan taking the points on offer.

When Wigan were offside on twenty-one minutes, George Whitby kicked the resulting penalty to level the scores at 2-2.

Smith had a try ruled out on twenty-five after the video referee adjudged Tyler Dupree to have obstructed St Helens tacklers.

But on twenty-eight French and Field combined, the former putting through a pinpoint grubber for the latter to chase, collect and ground. Smith added the extras for an 8-2 lead.

On thirty-three Abbas Miski took a French tap back from a Smith high kick, the winger collecting and diving over the line in one action to edge his side further ahead. Smith was wide of the target with his attempted conversion.

With ninety seconds of the half remaining Marcus Mbye was yellow carded for a direct head contact in making the tackle.

The first notable action of the second forty came on forty-four when Sam Walters was sin-binned for a tackle to the head with mitigation. Both sides now with twelve on the field.

Wigan extended their lead, possibly a score too much for Saints, when Field took a Smith pass to go through and score, the Smith dummy wrongfooting the Saints defence. Smith added the conversion for 18-2.

The game needed a St Helens try to inject some life. On sixty-three the game got it with Lewis Murphy outpacing the Wigan defence to score an acrobatic try in the left corner. Whitby added a perfect touchline conversion, and the arrears were back to ten points, Saints still with an outside chance of snatching the win.

With eight minutes of the game remaining, it was game on, Agnatius Paasi dragging Wigan players over the line with him as he spun and dropped over the line to score, under the sticks. Whitby added the conversion for 14-18, Saints one converted try away from snatching victory. Panic set in amongst the Warriors fans but the clock was against Saints.

Two minutes from time Tristan Sailor spilled the ball ten from his own line, the loose ball picked up by Zach Eckersley who passed out to Miski, the winger diving in for his second of the afternoon and the win for the Warriors. Smith added the conversion with thirty seconds on the clock, Wigan with a ten point victory.

It’s Wigan who triumph in the game’s oldest derby, jumping above Hull FC and into second spot in the table, two points behind league leaders Hull KR. It was a full-blooded derby with plenty of intensity but some evident nerves with a number of errors from both sides. Field, French and Smith were the big differences between the two sides as they controlled the game from the outset and were a major part of the important Wigan tries.

Wigan Warriors: Field (2T), Miski (2T), Eckersley, Wardle, Marshall, French, Smith (G 2/3), Byrne, Leeming, Walters (SB on 44), Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis. Subs: O’Neill, Forber, Dupree, Hill. 18^th Man: Farrimond.

St Helens: Sailor, Bennison, Whitley, Percival, Murphy (T), Welsby, Whitby (G 3/3), Walmsley, Mbye (SB on 38), Lees, Sironen, Batchelor, Knowles.  Subs: Clark, Paasi (T), Delaney, Sambou. 18^th Man: Stephens.

Half-Time: 12-2.

Full-Time: 24-14.

Score Progression: 2-0, 2-2, 6-2, 8-2, 12-2, (SB) : HT: (SB), 16-2, 18-2, 18-6, 18-8, 18-12, 18-14, 22-14, 24-14 :FT.

Lead Exchanges: Wigan – Square - Wigan.

Referee: Chris Kendall.