Saints 29

Wigan Warriors 16 MAGNIFICENT match! Pulsating performance! Resounding result!

Just a few of the joyous reasons why stupendous Saints and their fanatical fans were partying after Grand Final glory at Manchester's 'Theatre of Dreams' on Saturday.

Victory over the old enemy is always sweet and Saints were full value for victory against a Warriors squad contributing hugely to a compelling spectacle.

An incident-packed derby classic of unbearable intensity, and contested before a record crowd in the deafening cauldron of wet and windy Old Trafford, found five-try Saints rising to the big occasion superbly, with defensive resolve the perfect balance to customary attacking flair.

All this despite 'walking wounded' forwards skipper Chris Joynt, Keiron Cunningham, Apollo Perelini, Freddie Tuilagi and Sonny Nickle having to break the pain barrier to survive in a game where Wigan's fight-back to within a point after trailing 17-4, along with Saints' stirring riposte, were pure theatre. Having overcame Wigan four times in a season for the first time since 1970/71, Saints have also consigned hints of inferiority complex to the four winds, and can rightly claim that they are now - in this hemisphere at least - 'simply the best.'

Every Saint was worthy of canonisation on an emotional night when Samoan cult-figures Apollo Perelini and Freddie Tuilagi said their farewells, and captain courageous Joynt earned the Harry Sunderland man-of-the-match award for the second time since 1993 - against similar opposition!

Four-goal Man-of-Steel Sean Long was also high in the pecking order, and although it cuts me to the quick to single out others given the united front, here goes with new England cap Paul Wellens, simply amazing Cunningham, Sully, Scully, Freddie and 19-year-old Tim Jonkers worthy of special mention.

All this soaring story of success also reflects great credit on Saints' coach Ian Millward who, from the comparative obscurity of Leigh, has imbued his new charges with the same uncanny winning ways that he demonstrated at Hilton Park. Warriors' exerted most of the opening pressure but, much to the delight of their massive following, it was Saints who set the scoreboard ticking in the seventh minute when Joynt's pass out of the tackle saw Sean Hoppe plough past Jason Robinson and Brett Dallas.

Long suffered his only failure with the boot, and Wigan soon got on terms when Tony Smith's slick pass was latched onto by influential skipper Andy Farrell, and he shrugged off Jonkers and Wellens on his way to the try-line.

Farrell was also off-target with the goal-kick, and the Wigan castle almost crumbled again when Sculthorpe chipped through for first Joynt and then Cunningham, but video referee Ray Tennant was having none.

Having withstood 12 consecutive tackles Saints were not to be denied at the other end, with 'Joynty' emulating Farrell's earlier effort by gobbling up Long's pass before powering past the Warrior's leader and Radlinski to touch down. Sean's conversion meant Saints led 10-4 with half-an-hour on the clock, and Sculthorpe then chipped in with a timely drop goal which helped to keep the Trophy holders in front, as did the shrewd kicking of Long and Super League player-of-the-year Tommy Martyn.

Steve Renouf, Radlinski and the grafting Terry O'Connor were a continuous threat to Saints, however, and their line was subjected to a fierce pre-interval onslaught with Sullivan and Wellens dealing with steepling 'bombs ' from Willie Peters with aplomb.

Wellens again saved Saints' bacon with a try-saving challenge on David Hodgson in the final seconds of the half, and the next score was crucial to either side's chances on the restart but, remarkably, Wigan preferred to 'run it' when Joynt was penalised in front of the uprights.

On 50 minutes Long beat Denis Betts to put Joynt between the posts, but wounded Warriors roared back via tries by Hodgson and Smith, with Farrell tacking on the extras.

Picture the scene with a grandstand finish guaranteed: Saints 17-16 in front with 10 agonising minutes remaining. Deliverance was at hand, however, as Tuilagi raced over from a wide pass from Martyn, with Long's touchline goal the defining moment in restoring that magical seven-point lead.

There was still time for Jonkers to hurtle across the Warriors' line for his first try in 18 months after Stankevitch and Sullivan had made the running, while other abiding memories were of Saints lap-of-honour before receiving the silverware, and young substitute Scott Barrow overcome with the sheer drama of it all.

Then the party began in earnest . . .