Leyland helps St Helens fight back to stun Wigan

Betfred Super League St Helens (10) 34 Tries: Whitley, Clark, Hastings, Sailor, Leyland 2 Goals: Sailor 5 Wigan (12) 24 Tries: Smith, Farrimond, Field, Eckersley Goals: Keighran 4 Bill Leyland scored a dramatic pair of late tries on his St Helens debut to earn them a stunning derby win over Super League leaders Wigan Warriors. Harry Smith got Wigan going as Matt Whitley hit back, while Jack Farrimond and Daryl Clark exchanged tries soon after. Jai Field, on his return from injury, and Zach Eckersley gave the visitors what looked to be a commanding 24-10 lead before Saints pulled off a remarkable late comeback.

Four tries in just over five minutes followed, first through Jackson Hastings and Tristan Sailor before Leyland's sensational double in the final couple of minutes. Leyland only signed on a short-term one-week loan from defending champions Hull KR earlier this week and his two tries were his first in Super League. The result lifts Saints up to second while Wigan could be dethroned from top spot if Leeds beat Bradford in their derby later on Friday.

Tristan Sailor's late try brought St Helens to within two points of Wigan Warriors - but Bill Leyland's quickfire double shortly after put the gloss on a derby win [SWPix] In a tempestuous opening couple of minutes, St Helens' Jake Wingfield accused Brad O'Neill of spitting in his face, with referee Jack Smith putting the incident on report. Soon after, Smith scored his third Super League try of the season in impressive fashion, as he wrongfooted the Saints back line to race through. St Helens kept up the pressure in response and were rewarded after they worked wide following another set of six, feeding Whitley to touch down in the corner, but Wigan held a slender lead when Sailor missed the extras.

Wigan thought they had raced further ahead when Kaide Ellis went over, with referee Smith initially giving the try, but video referee Marcus Griffiths correctly overturned the score when replays showed that Wingfield put in a tremendous defensive effort to hold him up. That disallowed try did not quell Wigan's resolve however, as they added a second try to their tally in impressive fashion when Farrimond's kick was palmed back into his path by Eckersley to send him through. Clark showed fine strength to crash over for Saints' second but in the second half Wigan moved into what had seemed like a comfortable 14-point lead.