Wigan beat Saints in Magic Weekend derby to go top

Betfred Super League

Wigan (14) 20

Tries: Marshall, Farrimond, Walters Goals: Keighran 4

St Helens (0) 0

Wigan Warriors returned to the top of Super League with a comfortable Magic Weekend derby victory over St Helens.

Matt Peet's side raced ahead as Liam Marshall ran in unopposed and Jack Farrimond doubled their try-scoring tally soon after in an emphatic first half.

Wigan were reduced to 12 just before the hour mark as Kaide Ellis was sent to the bin for contact with the head of Joe Batchelor.

Sam Walters crashed down for a sensational try following Abbas Miski's pinpoint kick to goal to wrap up a stunning win for Wigan, who go top for at least 24 hours before second-placed Hull KR face Catalans on Sunday.

Wigan Warriors winger Liam Marshall has now scored 22 Super League tries this term - more than any other player

Both sides were depleted by injuries before the game really took hold, as Wigan lost Liam Farrell in the warm-up, while Curtis Sironen lasted just nine minutes for St Helens.

Marshall raced in for his 22nd Super League try of the season, courtesy of Adam Keighran's foresight in seeing him on the wing, with his clever pass sending him through to slice open the Saints defence.

Even more impressive was Farrimond's score minutes later, which came from a clever kick and chase and sent the Cherry and Whites 12-0 up.

Following the break, Wigan almost scored their third try as Zach Eckersley touched down, but it was waved away as replays showed Miski knocked on the build-up.

The game opened up for Saints after Ellis saw yellow, and they should have got on the board when Harry Robertson made an inspired run and offloaded to Matt Whitley, who was thwarted by a try-saving tackle from Jai Field.

With St Helens failing to make their advantage count, Wigan could have wrapped up the win in style as Marshall touched down again, but his efforts were chalked off because of a forward pass in the build-up.

Wigan eventually scored their third after a sustained spell of pressure as Walters crossed for his first try for the club, following Miski's impressive kick from the wing which ripped open St Helens once more.

It was a chastening afternoon's work for Saints, who face another in-form side in Hull KR in their next Super League meeting, while Wigan face their cross-city rivals Hull FC off the back of their heavy defeat by struggling London Broncos.

Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet told BBC Radio Manchester:

"It's always nice to nil as a coach and as a Wigan coach there's always an extra expectation in a St Helens game.

"There's plenty of improvement in us but I'm very proud of the players and we'll build on this, I'm sure.

"We started the game and committed to what we said we were going to do. A few things happened in the game, there were some decisions I thought went against us, but our response to it was that we always reacted positively to the next phase of play."

St Helens boss Paul Wellens:

“Immediately after losing against your main rivals, heads are down and I hope they are.

“But what’s important is that they don’t stay down for too long.

"We’ve got a run-in now where we need to put our heads down and fight as much as possible, and if we do that I believe we will get enough points to get into the play-offs.”

Wigan: Field; Miski, Eckersley, Wardle, Marshall; Farrimond, Keighran; Havard, Leeming, Thompson, Nsemba, Walters, Ellis.

Interchanges: Byrne, Dupree, Mago, Forber.

St Helens: Robertson; Makinson, Blake, Batchelor, Ritson; Davies, Mbye; Delaney, Bell, Lees, Whitley, Sironen, Paasi.

Interchanges: Walmsley, Burns, Vaughan, Stephens.

Referee: Jack Smith