ST Helens continued their hoodoo over Warrington in Super League with a 20-18 win at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The Wolves have managed just two home wins over their local neighbours in the summer era and were barely millimetres away from making it three as Rhys Evans had a last minute try ruled out by the video referee.
Saints had kept the hosts at arms length for much of the match against a Warrington team fresh from booking their place at Wembley last weekend.
The win moves Saints to within three points of the Wolves and drags them back in to contention for top spot, which seemed extremely unlikely barely a month or so ago.
It took 20 minutes for the deadlock to be broken, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook reaching over to score the first try, converted by Mark Percival for 6-0.
Warrington levelled things up when Daryl Clark darted over from dummy half, but Saints restored their six point lead at the break through Jonny Lomax.
It took the best part of 20 minutes of the second half for a score too, this time Percival stretching Saints’ advantage with a penalty.
Jack Hughes celebrated signing a new contract by scoring a try shortly after the hour mark, with Kurt Gidley adding the extras to move the Wolves within two again.
But Saints wouldn’t budge, and they entered the final 10 minutes eight points to the good thanks to Jordan Turner’s converted try.
Super League Player of the Month Ryan Atkins made sure Warrington wouldn’t go down without a fight, clawing them back within two points with eight minutes to play.
As time ticked on, a Chris Sandow break forced a repeat set and Warrington thought they’d snatched it at the death as they shifted the ball right and Evans found the line in the corner.
But after referee Phil Bentham referred it upstairs to the video referee, it was found that Evans had just brushed the line with his trailing leg in the process of scoring and the Wolves were denied.
Rhys Evans jumps for the ball Picture Bob Brough www.warringtonwolves.com
Tempers reach boiling point Picture Bob Brough www.warringtonwolves.com
Ryan Atkins on his way to the try line Picture Bob Brough www.warringtonwolves.com
Ryan Atkins in full flight Picture Bob Brough www.warringtonwolves.com
Touchdown for Ryan Atkins Picture Bob Brough www.warringtonwolves.com
Ryan Atkins celebrates Picture Bob Brough www.warringtonwolves.com
Warrington: Ratchford, Russell, T King, Atkins, Evans, Gidley, Sandow, Hill, Clark, Sims, Currie, Hughes, Westerman. Subs: Dwyer, Westwood, Wilde, G King.
St Helens: Lomax, Owens, Peyroux, Percival, Swift, Turner, Walsh, Richards, Roby, Walmsley, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Greenwood, Wilkin. Subs: Amor, Vea, Thompson, Knowles
Lovely to see my furry friend @Wolfie__1 @wolvesrl 👍❤️ pic.twitter.com/tpGWzjNfN8
— Gary Skentelbery (@GarySkent) August 4, 2016
TRY for @wolvesrl 12-14 @StHelensRLFC pic.twitter.com/2ET3t20eG7
— warrington-worldwide (@warringtonworld) August 4, 2016
Heading for grandstand finish Try for @rararyan85 @wolvesrl 18-20 pic.twitter.com/JTwUz6fW0H
— warrington-worldwide (@warringtonworld) August 4, 2016
No try! 🙈 18-20 @wolvesrl pic.twitter.com/ch1xDeaFZs
— warrington-worldwide (@warringtonworld) August 4, 2016
