Justin Holbrook took full charge of his St Helens side for the first time, and named an unchanged side to take on Wigan Warriors in the original local derby. Saints were fresh from a comprehensive thrashing of Hull FC last weekend in Newcastle and keen to level the score with Wigan in 2017 after defeat at the DW in April.

Wigan salvaged a 24-24 draw with the Wolves at Magic, return of Thomas Leuluai from a broken jaw in the thirteen and Sam Powell was back on the bench.

It's a while since these two great sides have found themselves languishing in mid-table and both were looking for a confidence boosting win to give them a boost in the push for a top four spot.

A defensive nightmare gifted Saints the opening try after just three minutes when Ryan Morgan fielded a Matty Smith high kick to the corner and picked Liam Marshall's grasp to drop to the ground for the four pointer. Mark Percival converted brilliantly from the touchline for the perfect Saints start.

On thirteen Wigan got on the board when Tom Davies took a Lewis Tierney pass after Thomas Leuluai had confused the Saints defence. Going over by the corner flag it was a difficult conversion for George Williams but he was accurate with the boot to level the scores.

When James Roby failed to clear the ruck, conceding the first penalty of the game on twenty-two minutes, Williams kicked a thirty-five metre penalty goal to edge Wigan ahead.

Just before half an hour Sam Powell made Wigan's second try when he broke down the centre of the field and found Tierney in support to go over from twenty metres. Williams added the extras and despite Saints great start to the game it was the Warriors who were now bossing the game.

But on thirty-five Zeb Taia narrowed the margin after Percival had been upended. From the resulting penalty the Saints second rower got on the end of Smith grubber to ground. Percival added the extras for 12-14 at the interval.

Saints started the second half like they'd had a serious half time roasting, but despite relentless pressure on the Warriors line the Cherry & White defence heroically held firm.

Instead of Saints taking the lead it was two dreadful errors which extended Wigan's lead on the hour. A suicidal offload from Alex Walmsley went into Wigan hands before Joe Burgess got an hand on a Williams grubber when Adam Swift should have knocked the ball dead. Williams failed to convert so the margin was one converted try at 18-12.

On sixty-six the Saints pressure finally paid when a Kyle Amor offload and Theo Fages reverse pass put Mark Percival through a gap to score by the left upright. Percival added the extras to level the scores with thirteen minutes left on the clock.

After a failed Smith attempted drop goal Thomas Leuluai was accurate with his own effort from twenty metres to edge the Warriors one point ahead ten minutes from time.

On seventy-six Saints snatched the win when Percival fielded a Smith high kick, picking the pocket of Tierney and going ten metres to score by the left corner flag. Percival failed to add the extras but Saints had a 22-19 win.

This was a humdinger of a game with ferocious defences and some scintillating skills in attack. Mark Percival was the Saints second half hero with fourteen of his sides points. Wigan are now without a win in their last four games and just one point ahead of Saints in sixth spot in Super League 2017.

Saints: Makinson, Swift, Percival (2T, 3G), Morgan (T), Grace, Fages, Smith, Walmsley, Roby, Amor, Taia (T), Wilkin, Knowles. Subs: Douglas, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Thompson, Lee.

Warriors: Tierney (T), Davies (T), Forsyth, Burgess (T), Marshall, Williams (3G), Leuluai (DG), Nuuausala, McIlorum, Sutton , Isa, Farrell, O'Loughlin. Subs: Field, Powell, Tautai, Wells.

Referee: Phil Bentham.

Half-Time: 12-14.

Full-Time: 22-19.

Attendance: 13,138.