HAYDOCK were made to work hard for this victory in Wigan in terrible conditions.

They opened the scoring when Cunliffe picked up the ball 20 yards from his own line and rounded a couple of would be tacklers and went 60 yards up field and passed inside to Rigby who sped over to touch down 20 yards out. Cunliffe converted well to put Haydock 6-0 in front.

Cuthbert's hit back with a try and after Haydock lost possession to level the scores.

Haydock kicked a penalty on 43 minutes but Cuthberts seemed to have fire in their bellies and on 58 minutes their hooker managed to ground the ball despite several Haydock players holding on to him to put Cuthbert's 10-8 in front.

This livened Haydock up and within two minutes they went back in front when good work from Pickering and Cooper was finished off by Rigby. Cunliffe converted to make it 14-10.

Haughey went close to scoring on three occasions only to be held up short. Cunliffe kicked a goal on 73 minutes to make it 16-10 but Haydock just could not give the killer punch.

Cuthbert's had a lot of ball in the last five minutes and Haydock's defence had to be at their best to hold out.

St Helens Windows man of the match was M Rigby and outstanding performances from Cahalin, Bloor, Boland and Cunliffe.