Super Saints stun Wolves

Mick Potter enjoyed a winning start to life as St Helens coach as his new side produced a sensational second-half comeback to beat Warrington 26-14.

The Wolves appeared set to end their 15-year wait for a victory at Knowsley Road when they held a 14-0 lead shortly after the interval.

However, Matt Gidley scored two of Saints' six tries to make sure last year's beaten Grand Finalists began the season in style.

The result means Warrington have now failed to beat their near-neighbours in the last 22 meetings - a run that stretches all the way back to 2001.

Desperate streak

When Paul Rauhihi followed up a first-half effort from debutant Mickey Higham, the visiting fans must have thought this would finally be their night.

Instead they will head home wondering just what their side has to do to end a desperate streak since their 56-22 victory at Wilderspool seven years ago.

For so long the competition's under-achievers, Warrington - who were without the injured Martin Gleeson and the ill Vinnie Anderson - had suggested for 46 minutes that this could finally be the year they turn potential into results.

Off-season recruit Garreth Carvell didn't take too long to make an impression, getting involved in an early scuffle with Saints' Jon Wilkin.

But it was fellow new boy Higham who scored the opening try, making the most of a lucky break when Louis Anderson appeared to incorrectly play the ball to dive over from dummy-half.

Chris Hicks added the extras to make it 8-0 having earlier broken the deadlock with a straightforward penalty on the half-hour.

The Wolves moved further clear straight after the interval, Rauhihi - the second oldest player in the top flight - accepting Chris Riley's excellent offload to barge his way over next to the posts.

A second successful conversion pushed it out to a 14-point cushion and at that stage it appeared Potter would endure a frustrating start in his first competitive game since taking over from the departed Daniel Anderson.

Resilience

Yet Saints showed the type of resilience that has become a trademark during their many years of success, scoring six times without reply to run out comfortable winners in the end.

Lee Gilmour kick-started the recovery with a fine turn of pace to gallop down the left flank and soon after Ade Gardner, who had already seen a try chalked off for stepping on the whitewash, dived over on the opposite side.

Gidley had set up the winger on the right before grabbing a brace himself, the second coming straight after a penalty for a high shot by Adrian Morley.

James Graham made sure of the two points before teenager Tom Armstrong marked his first appearance with a late effort that rubbed salt in the latest wound suffered by the Wolves at the home of their local rivals.