Star Sport

Saints 28 Warrington 18

12:34am Saturday 20th March 2010

Saints maintained their remarkable home record against Wolves with a hard-fought win in an enthralling game at Knowsley Road.

They have not lost at home to the Wolves since January 1994 - and as usual there were times in this game where that record looked in doubt.

At one stage Saints seemed to be coasting at 20-4 but then three Warrington tries in nine minutes saw the momentum tip the way of the visitors, roared on by a 6,000 strong crowd in the Eddington End.

But Saints had the capacity to force errors out of Wolves – and when quick hands from Matt Gidley to Ade Gardner resulted in another try, Mick Potter’s men had a cushion to defend in the last 14 minutes. And that they duly did.

Saints pack, particularly James Graham, Jon Wilkin, Keiron Cunningham and James Roby, had a powerful game.

Behind them Kyle Eastmond was at his exciting and clinical best.

Eastmond opened the scoring after seven minutes when he ducked under a tackle and darted 40 metres to the line.

It took Warrington until 31 minute to reply, with Grix slicing through.

That looked as how it was going to end at the break, but Wilkin’s clever kick took a ricochet off Riley. Wilkin was on hand to touch down, with Eastmond adding his second goal.

Seven minutes after the restart and a deep kick from Eastmond was fumbled by Mathers. Eastmond was there to collect and then float it wide for Gardner to touch down.

Eastmond goaled and then kicked a penalty.

But tries from Matt King,Harrison and Chris Hicks put Wolves within two points, It was game on again, but fine handling from Saints saw Gidley send Gardner in for his second.

Saints held on and Eastmond made sure with a last minute penalty.

Saints: Wellens; Gardner, Gidley, Dean, Meli; Pryce, Eastmond; Graham, Cunningham, Puletua, Flannery, Soliola, Wilkin. Subs: Roby, Hargreaves, Clough, Fa’asavalu.

Warrington: Mathers; Hicks, King, Atkins, Riley; Grix, Myler; Morley, Monaghan, Carvell, L. Anderson, Westwood, Harrison. Subs: Bridge, Higham, Wood, Solomona.

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