Wigan Warriors 12 Saints 14 DOWN the years Central Park has staged many epic battles involving these deadly rivals, but surely none more gripping than this last Good Friday derby clash at the old stadium.

And a resilient Saints' side whose display exceeded most superlatives ended a six-match losing run against Wigan, confounded the bookies, surprised the pundits, and sent their loyal support into ecstasies after a magnificent match

Great credit must be lavished on coach Ellery Hanley who, on his return to the scene of many playing triumphs, confirmed that he has injected self-belief, ability to be focussed for 80 minutes, and ultra-fitness into his new charges.

As the final scoreline suggests, Wigan contributed greatly to an utterly absorbing struggle which kept fans rooted to the spot until the final hooter, but the consensus - even among dyed-in-the-wool 'Pie-Eaters - was that their side had been flattered by the margin of defeat.

Overall there was another winner at Central Park on Friday, and that was the game of Rugby League which was among the best I have seen, and despite its grinding intensity was sportingly contested with Saints' fairy tale ending richly deserved both for the team and everyone at the club.

Wigan snatched the opening initiative after 12 minutes when Greg Florimo dummied Iro and broke Sculthorpe's tackle to touch down, with Andy Farrell's conversion rebounding from the upright.

Fully half-an-hour ticked by before Farrell landed a goal after Nickle was penalised. Then Newlove sent Sullivan over in the corner, but the video referee ruled the Welsh flyer had broken touch.

Not to be denied, Martyn and Newlove put 'Sully' over on the interval, and immediately on the restart the Knowsley Road side grabbed the lead when Long's 'bomb' saw Paul Atcheson outjump Jason Robinson to score.

Martyn's sole conversion meant Saints led 10-6, and fully 30 minutes elapsed before Florimo's towering up-and-under saw Danny Moore beat Smith to the bounce, with Farrell on target to restore Wigan's slender advantage with eight minutes remaining.

Enter Iro! For, fed by the irrepressible Cunningham, the strapping Kiwi centre blasted Paul Johnson, Lee Gilmour and Terry O'Connor from his path for the winner.

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