Rookie Eckersley earns Wigan derby win over Saints

Betfred Super League

Wigan (6) 16

Tries: Wardle, Keighran, Eckersley Goals: Smith (2)

St Helens (6) 12

Tries: Welsby, Blake Goals: Percival (2)

Rookie full-back Zach Eckersley scored nan winning effort arsenic Wigan extended their lead astatine nan apical of Super League successful a ferocious brushwood pinch St Helens.

The 20-year-old stepped into nan cardinal domiciled pinch Warriors’ reigning Man of Steel Bevan French ruled retired for 8 weeks earlier nan crippled pinch a hamstring injury.

Saints, going into nan derby conflict connected nan backmost of 2 successive defeats, doubly led arsenic Jack Welsby and Waqa Blake went over, but tries from Jake Wardle and Adam Keighran restored parity.

Eckersley's effort pinch 12 minutes near intends that Wigan spell 4 points clear pinch a crippled successful manus connected second-placed Warrington, while Saints could driblet to arsenic debased arsenic 5th by nan extremity of nan weekend.

More to follow.

Wigan: Eckersley, Miski, Keighran, Wardle, Marshall, Farrimond, Smith, Havard, Thompson, Dupree, Nsemba, Farrell, Ellis.

Interchanges: Byne, Mago, Hill, Walters.

St Helens: Robertson, Ritson, Percival, Davies, Blake, Welsby, Lomax, Delaney, Clark, Lees, Sironen, Bell, Paasi

Interchanges: Royle, Burns, Vaughan, Stephens

Referee: Liam Moore.