ON this day (18 February) in 1987 Saints defeated neighbours Warrington 42-22 in a midweek clash to go to the top of the Division One table.

Alex Murphy's men had gone into the game with a bit of a bounce having just defeated Wigan's Challenge Cup conquerors Oldham four days earlier in the second round at the Watersheddings.

The clash against the Wires was an open game - but tight on the scoreboard with Saints leading 18-16 at the break.

The 9,468 crowd saw Saints rattle in tries from Phil Veivers, Barrie Ledger, Mark Elia, two, Neil Holding and Paul Forber.

Paul Loughlin kicked nine goals.

Among the scorers for Warrington was former Saints wing Kevin Meadows who had finished in the tight corner well to cross for a brace of carbon copy tries.

However, the biggest talking point was referee John Mean sending off big Wire forward Tony Humphries for a late hit on Neil Holding.

It was the second time in four days that a player had been sent off for a late tackle on the Saints scrum half with Oldham hooker Ian Sanderson getting an early bath in the cup tie.

In a TV interview afterwards Warrington coach Tony Barrow said Holding had done his "usual dive" and then was "up running around like a spring chicken."

Alas, Saints League form dropped off massively after they set their sights on Wembley - with Wigan comfortably taking the title.

Saints: Veivers; Ledger, Loughlin, Elia, McCormack; Clark, Holding; Burke, Liptrot, Fieldhouse, Platt, Haggerty, Arkwright. Subs: Bayliss, Forber.