Eastmond late show is perfect for Potter

St Helens coach Mick Potter hailed Kyle Eastmond's perfect timing after his dramatic late winner against Wigan on Friday night.

The 20-year-old Saints scrum-half touched down with just two minutes remaining on a wet night at the GPW Recruitment Stadium to snatch a 10-6 win from an epic engage Super League derby.

"It was very tense - we looked down and out there midway through the second half," said Potter. "It was a good score at the right time. It didn't leave them much time to come back, and sometimes that's the way to do it."

He added: "If you score too early it gives the other team time to come back. But it was timed perfectly - although I'm not sure if it was measured!"

Saints started well with a Matt Gidley try. But Wigan came to the fore, principally through Sam Tomkins, during a spell when Keiron Cunningham was off the field with a knee injury.

Eastmond took charge in the final quarter and had already been stopped just short moments earlier when he burst through for the winner late on.

Potter added: "He's very quick, very elusive and showed what he can do when he takes the line on.

"He's got other things he needs to work on, but taking on the line is not one of them. He's got some promise, hasn't he?"

The result halted Wigan's play-off charge after a run of five successive Warriors wins, but coach Brian Noble felt there was no shame in defeat.

He said: "It was a bit of a kick in the guts at the end there. But I have to say our effort and defence were great, as were Saints'. I thought we certainly deserved something from the game."