Saints 26 Wigan 12 REPORT by Denis Whittle LIKE every Saints' supporter of mature vintage I have tasted the heady brew of success and the bitter gall of defeat these last 50 years, but rarely have I felt as proud as I did at 4.30pm on Saturday.

For, along with thousands of other Knowsley Road diehards, I was privileged to witness 12-man Saints' mount a second-half rearguard action of Rorke's Drift dimensions in this gripping Challenge Cup first round clash.

For a Saints' side, rocked but refusing to buckle under the shock 38th-minute dismissal of skipper Bobbie Goulding, dug deep into previously umplumbed depths of character to emerge with a truly magnificent victory.

The deadly rivals were all square at 10-10 - which was not a true reflection of Saints' superiority - when Goulding received his marching orders and it appeared the home team's darkest hour when a tearful Bobbie trudged off.

Up to that point the inspirational Saints' leader had honoured his pledge to put contractual differences aside but, not for the first time in these situations, being shorthanded served as a spur.

No more so than to coach Shaun McRae who masterminded this first Challenge Cup win over Wigan for 20 years, with the previous one at Knowsley Road coming as long ago as 1897 when the competition began.

Talk of man-of-the-match awards was almost invidious on a day such as this because, at the risk of cliche, all were heroes, but for the record non-stop Apollo Perelini and slick-handling Derek McVey took the individual accolades in a Saints pack which ground Wigan into submission.

There was also a great volume of media support for Keiron Cunningham, Alan Hunte and Karle Hammond; Tommy Martyn gave the Saints' heirarchy a timely nudge that the stand-off position is not a problem, and Ian Pickavance grafted mightily after leaving the subs' bench.

Perfect sunny conditions and the inevitable cauldron-like atmosphere greeted the teams, and Saints had a third-minute boost when Goulding landed a penalty after Terry O'Connor fouled Martyn.

McVey and Hammond maintained pressure on a Warriors side rattled by the ferocity of Saints' tackling, and it came as no surprise when Paul Newlove, Cunningham and Hammond put Perelini over for Goulding to convert.

Wigan's Andy Johnson had a try disallowed after Andy Farrell fouled Newlove, but the visitors' captain put his side on the scoreboard with a penalty when Saints were caught offside.

Somewhat against the run of play, Wigan sprang back into contention when Henry Paul and Jason Robinson carved out a try for Chris Radlinski, converted by Farrell.

The Goulding-Cowie incident then sparked a free-for-all which referee Russell Smith placed on report, and few would have given tuppence for Saints' chances when the second half got under way.

Few would have backed Saints but led by Chris Joynt, they assumed control and dominance of possession in scoring three unanswered tries by Newlove, Hammond and Hunte (a fifty-yard interception) plus two goals by Martyn, with another goal from Farrell the sole response

So ended a game which, although not a classic, was testimony to Saints' fitness levels, while both the team and their loyal fans have walked with a real spring in their step this weekend, while video sales have gone through the roof.

The euphoria of the occasion was epitomised by Saints' top-tackler Joynt when he said: "I'll being have a few pints in town tonight in my home town of Wigan, that's for sure!"

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