Saints battle back for draw

Francis Meli
12 April 2012

St Helens produced a thrilling fightback to prevent Wigan beginning the new Engage Super League season with another win over their arch-rivals as the pari settled for a 16-16 draw in Cardiff.

Champions Wigan threatened a repeat of last October's Grand Final win over Saints as they impressively built up a 16-0 lead in the final match of Millennium Magic day one. Ryan Hoffman marked his debut with a try while Harrison Hansen and George Carmont also scored as the Warriors, impressive in defence and attack, held the upper hand for an hour.

Yet Saints had shown plenty of determination themselves and were rewarded in new coach Royce Simmons' first match as late tries from Jon Wilkin, Tony Puletua and Francis Meli snatched a draw.

Huddersfield produced an upset in the opening match of the Magic Weekend with two-try Danny Brough engineering a 28-18 win over highly-fancied Warrington.

The Giants, who brought Warrington's 2010 season to a sudden end in last September's play-offs, ran in five tries in an impressive start to the Engage Super League season.

Teenagers Joe Arundel and Adam Milner were amongst the tries for Castleford as they ensured neighbours Wakefield ended a momentous week on a low note with a 40-20 defeat in Cardiff

An early burst from Luke Gale got Rob Powell off to a winning start as Harlequins coach as they overcame Catalans Dragons 11-4 in Cardiff.

Gale scored two tries in the opening six minutes to set up a surprise win in their Engage Super League opener at the Millennium Stadium.

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