St Helens 30 Warrington Wolves 22.

WARRINGTON Wolves were their own worst enemy as they fell to defeat in an incident-packed thriller at Knowsley Road tonight.

Wolves, who have subjected their fans to 14 years of hurt after not beating Saints away since 1994, had no luck as they lost Chris Bridge and Matt King to injury in the first half.

But they blew a 14-8 half-time lead as they conceded three tries in six minutes - two of them to Ade Gardner - at the start of the second period.

They were all scored on Saints' right-hand side, the hole vacated by King where prop forward Andy Bracek was providing emergency cover inside Kevin Penny.

Vinnie Anderson took over from Bracek and Wolves hung in there, with a try from substitute winger Paul Johnson reducing the arrears to four points with 12 minutes remaining.

Michael Monaghan, who passed a late fitness test after collecting a hamstring injury in training, attempted to put Wolves ahead from a Lee Briers grubber kick five minutes later but his path was blocked by Saints back rower Mike Bennett.

The video referee spent several minutes checking for an obstruction offence but ruled in Saints' favour.

It was time for cool heads but successive penalties conceded by Rob Parker and Martin Gleeson then led to Ste Tyrer crossing from a Leon Pryce pass in the 75th minute, leaving Saints 26-18 ahead.

Wolves got back to Saints' end of the field where an aggressive charge and offload from Louis Anderson allowed Penny to slip over and make it 26-22 with three minutes remaining.

There was time for two more Wolves attacks but Westwood knocked on in the next set and Martin Gleeson followed suit.

Saints made sure of the victory when Meli stretched out of a Martin Gleeson and Westwood tackle to score with the final play of the game.

Errors and misfortune cost Wolves dearly from the start.

King injured his calf after only 50 seconds and limped through 34 minutes of action until he was replaced by Bracek.

Monaghan kicked straight into touch in the third minute and the pressure mounted as three successive penalties were conceded before James Roby burrowed over from dummy half.

Tyrer kicked his first of three successes from eight attempts as Saints went 6-0 in front but Wolves responded almost immediately with their first threatening attack of the game.

Briers' long pass found Martin Gleeson and he sucked in three defenders before backpassing for Chris Hicks to make it two tries from two games.

Briers, who managed just one conversion from five attempts, was off target from wide out.

Wolves lost Bridge with a leg injury in the 13th minute, with Hicks switching to full back and Paul Johnson coming off the bench to take over on the right wing.

Vinnie Anderson knocked on in the act of attempting to stretch his arm over the try line and then Hicks saved a try by forcing Gardner over the dead-ball line after winning the race to Chris Flannery's grubber kick.

Another run of three successive penalties led to Tyrer edging Saints four points clear with his boot and Keiron Cunningham lost possession as he tried to touch down from close range.

Wolves found another gear in the last five minutes of the half with Briers' snap pass putting Martin Gleeson over for the levelling try.

Monaghan's kick was well trapped by former schoolboy footballer Penny and his follow-up kick caused mayhem before Wolves were awarded a penalty for off side, which was repeated for another offside offence.

Wolves made Saints pay when Briers dummied Cunningham and converted his own try for a 14-8 advantage that Wolves did not protect well enough against the world club champions.

Saints: Paul Wellens; Ade Gardner (2t), Matt Gidley, Ste Tyrer (1t, 3g), Francis Meli (1t); Leon Pryce, Sean Long; Nick Fozzard, James Roby (1t), James Graham, Lee Gilmour, Mike Bennett, Chris Flannery. Subs used: Keiron Cunningham, Bryn Hargreaves, Paul Clough (1t), Gareth Frodsham.

Wolves: Chris Bridge; Chris Hicks (1t), Martin Gleeson (1t), Matt King, Kevin Penny (1t); Lee Briers (1t, 1g), Michael Monaghan; Adrian Morley, Jon Clarke, Paul Rauhihi, Louis Anderson, Ben Westwood, Vinnie Anderson. Subs used: Mark Gleeson, Rob Parker, Paul Johnson (1t), Andy Bracek.