How they lined up

Saints: Stewart; Hoppe, Iro, Stankevitch, Hall; Sculthorpe, Wellens; Matautia, Cunningham, Nickle, Fairleigh, Shiels, Joynt. Subs: McDonald, Jonkers, Cruckshank, McConnell.

Wigan Warriors: Radlinski; Dallas, Johnson, Renouf, Carney; Johns, Lam, O'Connor, Newton, Cowie, Furner, Cassidy, Farrell. Subs: Haughton, Betts, Stephenson, Hodgson

Attendance: 13, 571

Referee: Stuart Cummins (Widnes) Clockwatch 9 minutes: A break by Wigan's Mick Cassidy sets up the position for Terry Newton go over from a quick play the ball. Andy Farrell converts. 0-6.

18: Peter Shiels collects Paul Sculthorpe's high kick to the corner to open Saints' account. Sculthorpe goals. 6-6.

23: Paul Wellens collects Keiron Cunningham's flat pass to go under the posts. Sculthorpe converts, 12-6.

27: Wellens collects a loose ball from a Chris Joynt back-flip to cross. 16-6.

33: Farrell penalty, 16-8.

38: Sculthorpe try and goal 22-8.

52: Paul Johnson holds off Sean Hoppe's challenge then races down the right flank to score. Farrell goals 22-14.

62: High tackle by Neil Cowie on John Stankevitch results in a penalty which Sculthorpe converts. 24-14.

66: Rival centres Kevin Iro and Steve Renouf sin binned for fighting.

68: Farrell penalty 24 - 16.

75: A short drop out is collected by Stankevitch, who sends Tim Jonkers in for a try. Sculthorpe goals 30-16 Saints 30 Wigan 16 By MIKE CRITCHLEY SAINTS are used to taking plaudits for their flair and flamboyance on attack, but it was their rock solid defence that paved the way for yet another memorable victory to end Wigan's nine match winning streak. Victory was made more remarkable given Saints' injury woes - Ian Millward's squad may be small in numbers at the moment, but it is big in heart and they showed that on Friday night as they stretched a wall of muscle and bone across the pitch to repel and frustrate the Warriors attack.

The last quarter of the first half summed it up when, trailing 16-6, Wigan pounded the Saints line for a prolonged period, but were forced to come away with just two points from the boot of Andy Farrell when it became obvious there were no cracks appearing.

From that retreat onwards the writing was on the wall for the large Wigan following, who had come to Knowsley Road anticipating a win. You could tell they are getting used to these derby day defeats - most of them declined to do the 'Wigan Walk' and stayed to the end.

Despite lacking a recognised half back and being desperately short on three-quarters, Saints compensated by a clever, tight game plan - one which denied Wigan possession and kept them guessing, with the much touted multi-skilling taken to its limit.

Saints' team sheet formation bore little resemblance to the one that executed that game plan.

"I challenge anyone to say where the players from one to 13 played tonight," said coach Ian Millward afterwards.

Keiron Cunningham, who capped a tumultuous week with another superb game, showed opposite number Terry Newton just why there are no vacancies in the Great Britain first team.

Although performing his normal hooking duties in the loose, Cunningham took on the scrum half role at the scrum.

Man of the match Paul Wellens dropped back to full back, but supported like a half back in a superb two try display.

The youngster has come on leaps and bounds in the absence of so many senior colleagues with his alertness, strength and determination being complemented by his growing confidence.

He brings real energy to the side and his scream of joy when he crashed over for Saints' second try could be heard even above the din of the crowd at the Restaurant End.

It was a superbly executed score with Cunningham's quick, flat pass missing out Paul Sculthorpe and Sonny Nickle to pick out the flying Wellens who hit the ball like an express train.

Wellens grabbed his second to extend the lead and when Sculthorpe collected another super Cunningham pass to push the lead to 22-8, Wigan were effectively finished.

Although centre Paul Johnson's score 12 minutes after the restart narrowed the gap and set the fans' nerves jangling, Saints remained in command.

The home supporters, who had been tremendously vocal throughout, eventually breathed a massive sigh of relief when John Stankevitch, who had a big game, collected a short drop out and set up the supporting Tim Jonkers for a score which brought the curtain down.

After June's blip, when Wigan triumphed by a point, normal service has been resumed with this giving Saints an incredible record of four wins and a draw from the last six outings against the expensively assembled, salary cap busting Warriors.

The win capped a fantastic week for Saints and coach Millward said: "I am really proud of the way my players went about their business. We had a real boost with Keiron signing in the week, but we had to make sure we back that up with a win.

"We had to withstand a lot of pressure and we had to defend for long periods of time. Our defence was magnificent."