Long chips in last word after epic confrontation
St Helens 21 Wigan 21
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Your support makes all the difference.There was rarely a better example of the value of the humble drop goal than the two, from Andy Farrell and Sean Long, which decided a share of the points in this most thrilling of derbies at Knowsley Road.
There have been clashes between these historic rivals which have been better technically but few packed with such breathless excitement, which came to a head in the final minutes. With the scores at 20-20, Farrell, an inspiring leader for a Wigan side that was in danger of being swamped in the first half, lined up a one pointer to give his side the edge.
In a game of so many twists it was hardly guaranteed to be the last word and, sure enough, with four minutes left, Long replied with a drop goal less the product of planning than pure instinct. Bustling out of dummy half, he probed one way and then the other for an opportunity to run or get a pass away.
Only when he seemed to have run out of other options did Long, almost as an afterthought, chip the ball over from 35 yards to preserve Saints' unbeaten record. Even then Long could have swung the game, having raided down the right to get the ball to Lee Gilmour, who had already scored two tries but was denied on this occasion by Brett Dallas' vital tackle.
"We'll take anything because Saints are on the crest of a wave and we've been struggling,'' said Mike Gregory, whose Wigan side have only won one Super League game. "I'm very proud of what they did today. I'm pleased with one point but frustrated because I believe the boys deserved more.''
Saints coach Ian Millward had reason to believe his side should have had it won in the first half, during which they hit Wigan with three quick tries. The first two came from the former Wigan player, Gilmour, and when John Wilkin took advantage of Danny Orr's fumble to spin 40 yards and score Wigan were in desperate trouble.
But Saints failed to take other opportunities and, with half time approaching, Kevin Brown shimmied in for a try converted from the touchline by Farrell. Wigan drew level after the break when Orr picked up a difficult low pass and sneaked over, but Saints came straight back to score through Willie Talau, from Paul Wellen's miraculous pass. Terry Newton's try, scrambling after his own kick, tied it up before he was sent to the sinbin with Wilkin after a ferocious brawl.
Farrell struck the first blow to break the deadlock, if not the killer blow. But it was Wigan who could take more encouragement from a truly epic game.
St Helens: Wellens, Albert, Hooper, Talau, Feaunati, P Sculthorpe, Long, Fozzard, Cunningham, Edmondson, Gilmour, Joynt, Wilkin. Substitutes used: Higham, Bibey, Mason.
Wigan: Radlinski, Aspinwall, Wild, Brown, Dallas, O'Loughlin, Orr, O'Connor, Newton, Pongia, Cassidy, Tickle, Farrell. Substitutes used: M Smith, C Smith, Hock, D Sculthorpe.
Referee: K Kirkpatrick (Warrington).
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