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Saints stunned

9/11/2005

LAST weekend's top-of-the-table clash saw Wigan St Patrick's beat St Anne's 28-8 and leap-frog over the visitors in the league table on points difference.

St Pat's adapted better to the terrible conditions, with hooker Deon Duell leading the way, although his opposite number Eric Johnson was also impressive for St Anne's.

The home team took the lead in the third minute after second row forward Richard Owen broke clear to send Great Britain international loose forward Mel Alker in under the posts for a Kelvin Peet goaled try.

Three minutes later, St Anne's replied when Mickey Deakin managed to off-load in a three-man tackle to put full-back Gary Rafferty over the whitewash. But, from then on it was one-way traffic for the Wigan outfit.

Damien Charnock got his first try, again goaled by Peet, to lead 12-4 at half-time.

After the break St Anne's couldn't take advantage of their possession and allowed their hosts to gallop away with the game.

A Peet penalty goal followed by tries for Atherton and a second for Charnock put the game out of Saint's grasp. Tempers flared on the hour with the sin-binning of Peet and David Sweeney for a midfield skirmish, then Saints lost Rafferty and Jason Best to injuries which made the task even more difficult.

St Pat's left centre, Gary Rouke who had caused problems all afternoon, completed the scoring with a try for Peet to add the extras. Under-18s winger Lee Forsythe snatched a late consolation try for Saints.