St Helens 34-24 Wigan Warriors: Loanee Bill Leyland scores double as Saints full almighty fightback in Good Friday derby

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Bill Leyland inspires a stunning St Helens comeback with two late tries to overturn Wigan and seal a dramatic Good Friday derby victory.

Bill Leyland evokes a shocking St Helens comeback with two late tries to overturn Wigan and seal a dramatic Good Friday derby victory.

St Helens scored 4 tries within the ultimate quarter-hour to drag off an almighty fightback and wrap up a 34-24 victory over Wigan Warriors within the Good Friday derby on the BrewDog Stadium.

Saints have been with out double figures of their first crew resulting from accidents and suspension however had introduced in Bill Leyland and Jordan Dezaria from Hull KR on a one-week mortgage to bolster their aspect on the bench within the week.

They say kind goes out of the window in a Betfred Super League derby sport and that it did. Indeed, it was paying homage to when, again in 2003, a depleted Wigan aspect beat St Helens.

On loan from Hull KR, Bill Leyland scores twice in the closing minutes to complete a remarkable St Helens comeback, first burrowing over from close range before racing clear after a Wigan error to seal the derby win

On mortgage from Hull KR, Bill Leyland scores twice within the closing minutes to finish a outstanding St Helens comeback, first burrowing over from shut vary earlier than racing clear after a Wigan error to seal the derby win

Remarkably, Leyland, who has been on mortgage at St Helens for only a few days, proved the hero as he scored twice within the closing levels to wrap up a basic victory for Saints as they lived as much as the tagline of ‘Never write off the Saints’.

Wigan had an enormous increase with the return of Jai Field for the primary time since recovering from appendicitis however couldn’t maintain on to safe their first Good Friday win on Saints’ turf in 10 years.

In entrance of a sold-out crowd at BrewDog Stadium, Wigan Warriors had a slender 12-10 half-time lead due to tries from Harry Smith and Jack Farrimond, Adam Keighran changing each.

St Helens had hit again by Matt Whitley and Daryl Clark, Tristan Sailor changing the second.

Wigan thought that they had wrapped up the victory when Field and Zack Eckersley had scored however as Jackson Hastings, Tristan Sailor and Leyland went over with lower than 1 / 4 left on the clock, the Saints devoted went into pandemonium.

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Leyland helps St Helens pull off Good Friday miracle

As ever on this match, it was a brutal begin between Saints and Wigan, each groups placing every thing into every deal with.

The St Helens followers have been rapidly met with a sight they didn’t wish to see when Agnatius Paasi left the sphere with a hamstring damage.

Harry Smith opens the scoring for Wigan Warriors with a well-taken try

Harry Smith opens the scoring for Wigan Warriors with a well-taken attempt

It took solely seven minutes for Wigan to simply get onto the scoreboard. After Lewis Murphy was pinged for an incorrect play the ball, Smith was allowed to simply dance by by Shane Wright and Sailor, Keighran changing to offer the guests an early 6-0 lead.

Despite happening early, St Helens responded within the fifteenth minute when, on the again of repeat units, Sailor despatched the flick move for Whitley to go in for his first attempt of the season and convey the rating to 6-4. Sailor was unable so as to add the conversion.

Four minutes later, Kaide Ellis thought he was over, however Jake Wingfield got here up with an excellent defensive effort to carry him up over the road on the fourth deal with.

Jack Farrimond scores after a clever knockdown allows him to collect and cross untouched to extend Wigan’s lead

Jack Farrimond scores after a intelligent knockdown permits him to gather and cross untouched to increase Wigan’s lead

It didn’t take lengthy for extra factors to return although as Farrimond despatched up a chip with Zach Eckersley climbing highest to bat the ball again to the half-back, Keighran sending over a clutch conversion from the touchline for a 12-4 lead after 23 minutes.

St Helens saved coming and bought their reward within the thirtieth minute as Clark earned a penalty on midway then from shut vary used his power to journey the deal with and go over. Sailor transformed this time to deliver the rating to 12-10 on the break.

Daryl Clark finishes strongly to bring St Helens back into the contest against Wigan

Daryl Clark finishes strongly to deliver St Helens again into the competition in opposition to Wigan

The second half began simply as ferociously as the primary however within the opening 10 minutes there was a nervous power with Saints and Wigan arising with pricey errors, Sam Walters coming shut however being held up by one other good Wingfield try-saver.

The Warriors thought that they had introduced an finish to that fear for his or her followers within the 54th minute when Smith put by a wise grubber on the final which Field expertly dove on to mark his return to the aspect.

Jai Field scores on his return after a perfectly weighted grubber from Harry Smith sends him through to extend Wigan’s lead

Jai Field scores on his return after a superbly weighted grubber from Harry Smith sends him by to increase Wigan’s lead

It was a fantastic thing about a crew attempt which the Warriors thought had wrapped up derby day glory for the Warriors. As Patrick Mago bought the move away within the deal with to Brad O’Neill, the hooker discovered Ollie Partington who raced away and located winger Eckersley. He used his tempo to slip in on the nook whereas Keighran discovered perfection with the boot as soon as once more to place Wigan 24-10 up with simply over 10 minutes remaining.

However, as we frequently see in these derbies, the sport was nowhere close to over.

As Murphy broke down the wing within the 72nd minute, Saints skipper Hastings discovered himself in the appropriate place on the proper time to choose up the free ball and go over. Sailor transformed to deliver the rating to 24-16.

Zach Eckersley finishes a sweeping Wigan move after a series of offloads and quick hands

Zach Eckersley finishes a sweeping Wigan transfer after a collection of offloads and fast fingers

Then, the comeback reached new heights. After Sailor himself went over and transformed to deliver the rating to 24-22, all consideration turned to Leyland as he had his second within the highlight.

In the 77th minute, he discovered a pick-and-go from shut vary to scoot over and rating. Sailor obliged with the conversion to deliver the rating to 28-24.

Just as he thought he had already wrapped up the win, he discovered much more glory when Wigan went for the brief kick-off and the ball bounced kindly for the interchange hooker, permitting him to run away and go in because the noise within the St Helens ends reached fever pitch.

The victory marks St Helens’ first win over Wigan since 2023.

‘I’ve solely had one coaching session with Saints!’

Bill Leyland reflects on a surreal derby performance after scoring twice and admits he has only had one training session with St Helens following his loan from Hull KR

Bill Leyland displays on a surreal derby efficiency after scoring twice and admits he has solely had one coaching session with St Helens following his mortgage from Hull KR

Player of the match – Bill Leyland – on Sky Sports:

“It’s surreal. Playing such a big derby. My team [Hull KR] won in the game before, so it’s a double win for me. I’m glad to bring it home for all of these fans, it’s pretty surreal.

“I used to be advised to be prepared. I do not even suppose I deserve this [award]. Klemmer performed the complete 80 and killed it.

“All I wanted was the game time, wherever that is. The boys have welcomed me here, I’ve only had one training session. To share this experience with them is special.”

‘Never write off the Saints’ | Wigan weren’t at it for sustained intervals’

St Helens head coach Paul Rowley, talking on Sky Sports:

“That was very special. The adversity we were under – before and during the game.

“The perception and character of the group has by no means been questioned, we wished to bounce again from a tricky week final week, and we did that in the easiest way potential.

“Bill Leyland is a good runner of the ball, he’s elusive. We thought he could be just the tonic for us to open up the game. He’s an admiral young man, massive credit to him.”

Wigan head coach Matt Peet, chatting with Sky Sports:

“I can accept it was an intense game, passionate, that finished in an exciting manner, but we need to look at the things we did.

“We’ve bought to be higher than that however credit score to Saints, that they had their backs to the wall however continued to maneuver the ball and deserved the win.

“We didn’t put our game together enough for a sustained period. The attack was good but we gave penalties away too often. We weren’t at it for sustained periods.”

2026 Super League – key dates and what to look out for

Rivals Round: April 3-April 5
Super League in Paris: Sat Jun 6: Catalans Dragons v Wigan Warriors (Paris), 6:30 UK (Sky Sports)
Magic Weekend: July 4-July 5
Rivals Round reversed: July 23-July 26
Elimination Play-offs: September 19-September 20
Play-off semi-finals: September 26-September 27
Grand Final: October 3, Old Trafford.

Sky Sports will once more present each sport of the Super League stay this season – together with two matches in every spherical solely stay, with the remaining 5 matches every week proven on Sky Sports+