Below-par Saints went in front for the first time with Matt Gidley's second try in the 56th minute, but in a thrilling finale Wigan winger Pat Richards levelled the scores with a long-range penalty 10 minutes from the end. Richards, in fact, had a ch
ance to win the game for the visitors, but his late drop-goal attempt sailed wide of the posts.
In the 18th minute, James Graham took exception to an off-the-ball challenge from Wigan substitute Iafeta Paleaaesina and was sin-binned by the referee for retaliation.
Trent Barrett sent George Carmont over in the 25th minute to open the scoring and Joel Tomkins went over three minutes later. Richards added both conversions, but Saints pulled a try back just before
half-time when Gidley slid over.
Sean Long landed the touchline conversion to cut Wigan's lead by half, but Richards made it 14-6 with a
40-metre penalty within two minutes of the re-start.
The Cup holders eventually found their rhythm in the 52nd minute when winger Ade Gardner went over, with Long once more adding the difficult goal to bring his side to within two points at 14-12, but he was off target for the first time when Gidley took Kyle Eastmond's pass to slide over for his second try which put Saints in front for the first time.
There was still plenty of drama to come, with Meli having a 'try' disallowed in the 67th minute and Richards levelling the scores three minutes later with a second penalty.
St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Talau, Meli, Roby, Long, Fozzard, Cunningham, Graham, Gilmour, Wilkin, Flannery. Substitutes: Hargreaves, Clough, Fa'asavalu, Eastmond.
Wigan: Mathers, Phelps, Goulding, Carmont, Richards, Barrett, Leuluai, Fielden, Higham, Coley, Hansen, Bailey, J. Tomkins. Substitutes: Paleaaesina, Colbon, Prescott, Smith.
Referee: A Klein (London)
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