St Helens 16 Wigan 25 NO sooner had Wigan lifted one cup than they were eyeing up another.

The holders retained the Regal Trophy after an enthralling clash with arch-rivals St Helens at the McAlpine Stadium, but such is their professional approach that tomorrow night's clash with Bradford - when they can lift the league title - was already on their minds.

"It is great to win this but we have a tough week coming up and a big game against Bradford," was loose-forward Simon Haughton's view.

"You don't have too much time to enjoy one trophy as there is another game around the corner," added Wigan's game breaker Henry Paul.

The match was as close and tense as Wigan have faced in recent finals with St Helens showing no signs of caving in. In fact they had the game in their hands at one stage only for Wigan's never-say-die approach to pull them through in the end.

As Paul added: "It is the fear factor. We don't want to lose and we dug deep.

"St Helens were really fresh but we weathered the storm. It was not a vintage Wigan win as we had to pick up the scraps that were around." Yet it looked like another cakewalk for the cup kings when Va'aiga Tuigamala burst through three defenders to score in the 15th minute and Paul added the goal.

But Saints stormed back with a sensational try five minutes later when a sweeping move saw the ball pass through eight pairs of hands before livewire winger Joey Hayes squeezed in at the corner.

Saints maintained the pressure and went ahead in the 26th minute when Bobbie Goulding's short pass found Paul Newlove a yard from the line and even Wigan's stout defence couldn't stop the powerful centre from crashing over. The holders had lacked attacking ideas in the first-half but although sharper after the break had to thank their opponents for allowing them back into the game.

Jason Robinson, one of Wigan's most dangerous players, kicked ahead in the 46th minute and Scott Gibbs fumbled the ball over the line. In raced Kris Radlinski to gather and touch down under the posts for Paul to goal.

The game was still tight but then Paul took a hand five minutes later.

There was nothing on when Tuigamala gave him the ball 25 metres out but the Kiwi danced and jinked his way past four defenders for a sensational try and then added the goal. Goulding kicked a penalty and Shaun Edwards dropped a goal before man-of-the-match Kieron Cunningham touched down. Goulding goaled and at 19-16 there were 10 dramatic minutes remaining.

But Wigan's defence, in which Mick Cassidy had been outstanding, never looked like cracking again and Saints centre Gibbs made it a final to forget when he was sent off for leading with the elbow.

Paul had the final say when he again jinked his way over for a try and added the goal. "At half-time I told them to play their normal game and be patient," said Wigan coach Graeme West. "Let the forwards do the work and then the backs can take over."

WIGAN: Connolly, Robinson, Tuigamala, Radlinski, Offiah, Paul, Edwards, Cowie, Hall, O'Connor, Quinnell, Cassidy, Haughton. Subs: Smyth (for Connolly 70), Dermott (for Quinnell 69). Att: 17,590.

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