Wigan and Saints tie in classic

Wigan's Newton and Radlinski halt Cunningham (l)

Wigan 22-22 St Helens

Wigan and St Helens produced a gripping Super League encounter, but neither could clinch the victory.

The Warriors looked set for victory after storming back in the second half with two tries from Steve Renouf and one from Paul Radlinski taking them into a 22-12 lead with just 11 minutes remaining.

But Dwayne West and Paul Sculthorpe produced late tries for the visitors to salvage a draw.

In front of a JJB Stadium record crowd of 21,037, Saints enjoyed the better of the first half, scoring two tries to the hosts one.

Dominating possession

Their first try came against the run of play as Paul Newlove pounced on Adrian Lam's pass just 10 metres from his own line and sent winger Anthony Sullivan racing up field.

Wigan's Brett Dallas got back to make the tackle but Chris Joynt sent Sean Long in for the opening score.

I felt fairly comfortable with 10 minutes to go, I thought we would still win the game

  St Helens coach Ian Millward

The home side were enjoying the majority of possession and they hit back as Radlinski raced on to Matthew Johns' grubber kick for his first try.

Farrell kicked the conversion and then added a penalty to put the Warriors ahead.

But Saints regained the lead seven minutes before the break as Kevin Iro took Long's pass to help the visitors into a 12-8 lead at half-time.

Australian Steve Renouf ran in two second half tries as the Warriors recovered from an 8-12 deficit at the break to lead 18-12.

Spirited recovery

He took his own try tally for the season to five, with all of them having come at home.

And Radlinski scored his second try after a cross-field kick from Farrell fell invitingly to him after Dallas and Sullivan collided to make it 22-12.

We let them off the hook but take nothing away from them, they're a good side

  Wigan coach Frank Endacott

But just as Saints looked to be dead and buried, former Wigan man Dwayne West went over in the corner to give the visitors hope.

And Sculthorpe took advantage of great work from Matautia, just four minutes from the end for another try.

Sean Long converted to level the scores and despite a penalty and drop goal effort from Farrell, neither side could find a killer finish.

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Wigan: Radlinski, Dallas, Renouf, Johnson, Hodgson, Johns, Lam, O'Connor, Newton, Cowie, Betts, Furner, Farrell. Replacements: Howard, Cassidy, Smith, Davies.

St Helens: Wellens, Hall, Iro, Newlove, Sullivan, Sculthorpe, Long, Fairleigh, Cunningham, Nickle, Jonkers, Shiels, Joynt. Replacements: Matautia, Stankevitch, Stewart, West.

Referee: Stuart Cummings (Widnes)