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 the winning try as Wigan extended their lead at the top of Super League in a ferocious encounter with St Helens.

The 20-year-old stepped into the key role with Warriors’ reigning Man of Steel Bevan French ruled out for several weeks before the game with a hamstring injury.

Saints, going into the derby clash on the back of two successive defeats, twice led as Jack Welsby and Waqa Blake went over, but tries from Jake Wardle and Adam Keighran restored parity.

Eckersley's try with 12 minutes left means that Wigan go four points clear with a game in hand on second-placed Warrington, while Saints could drop to as low as fifth by the end of the weekend.

Warriors fans were left reeling by the loss of French before the game and, with Jai Field also out through injury, coach Matt Peet put his faith in Eckersley, whose five starts this season have all come as centre or wing.

Both sides were decimated by injury, and Saints had an even more inexperienced player at full-back, handing a debut to 18-year-old prospect Harry Robertson.

But the teenager had a superb game, twice showing excellent field position and then holding up a rampaging Keighran as Wigan sought to capitalise on Matty Lees’ first-minute sin-binning for a high tackle on Kaide Ellis.

Robertson then showed his attacking prowess as well, supporting Curtis Sironen's break and then delaying his pass perfectly to send Welsby between the posts.

His opposite number then took centre stage, Eckersley leaving Jonny Lomax grasping at air as he sprinted clear and then passed back inside for Wardle to score.

With Mark Percival and Harry Smith both having no difficulty with the conversions, the sides went in at half-time level.

Sironen again burst the game wide open with a powerful burst for the line that sucked in five defenders. He brilliantly offloaded to Lomax, who quickly fed Blake for a try in the corner which Percival nervelessly converted.

Wigan reacted like champions, charging forward from the restart to force Ben Davies into touch deep in his own half and, as they piled on the pressure, a sharp set of hands provided Keighran with the try in the corner, with Smith showing he can also kick under severe pressure to make it 12-12.

That set up Eckersley for his big moment, and he did not disappoint, timing his run into the attacking line to perfection and throwing a feint before going over to avenge Warriors' defeat in March's first fixture between the sides.

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.