Wigan 16 St Helens 6 ST HELENS can claim with some justification that the final scoreline in the Bartlett Insurance Inter-league first round encounter at Clarington Park, barely reflects their sterling efforts.

The visitors looked the more enterprising side as a tightly-contested first half drew to a close and held the initiative with a 6-0 lead at the break, courtesy of a converted try by full-back Wayne Jackman.

Gradually the balance of power shifted after the break and when prop forward Martin Cunningham grabbed their first try the homesters seemed to realise that a win was not impossible.

They took the lead for the first time in the match midway through the second half with a Darren Wilde try goalled by Glen Warburton.

The loss of talented Wayne Bloor with a first-half injury, forced St Helens to re-shape their line up at the break and despite the sterling efforts of skipper Jason Mitchell, Paul Ward, Wayne Jackman, Gareth Hill and Steve Kelsey, Wigan steadily gained control and effectively sealed victory with a try from hooker Martin Dermott and a Glen Warburton penalty goal.

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