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As we gear up to the biggest derby in Rugby League this Friday, Club historian Keith Sutch gives us all the facts and stats from the archives of one of the most anticipated fixtures in Rugby League.

The first every Derby match played between Wigan and St Helens dates back 126 years to November 1895, where the two sides played out a 0-0 stalemate in front of a crowd of 3,000 spectators at St Helens’ Knowsley Road. In more recent years, since the formation of Super League in 1996, the two teams have faced off 99 times (in all competitions) with Wigan claiming 45 wins and four draws from the fixtures.

This week’s game will be 100th meeting between the two teams in all competitions in the Super League era!

Since 1897, 83 players have made their debut for the Cherry and Whites against St Helens.

Sean O’Loughlin currently stands as the player with the most appearances for Wigan in a Derby (51), while Andy Farrell boasts the record for the most points in a game v St Helens (45 points, 26th May 1997 – Wigan 65-12 St Helens), as well as most goals scored in the same fixture (10 goals and one drop goal). Farrell sits top of the charts for overall points scored against Saints (340), as well as goals (148 goals plus four drop goals).

The standing record for most tries in a Derby match up is held by Green Vigo who registered seven tries in a Lancashire Cup game in August 1976. Though the overall try scorer for the Club from Derby matches sits with Jim Leytham (28) who represented the Club in the early 1900s and has a huge six hat-tricks against the same opposition.

Tickets for Wigan’s Betfred Super League Round 25 clash against St Helens are on sale! The biggest derby in Rugby League will take place on Friday 26th August at the DW Stadium. Don’t miss out and get your tickets now! Buy online by clicking HERE or call the DW Stadium Ticket Office on 01942 311111 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri).

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2022/08/ ... e-derby-2/

I would have liked Keith to take this a bit further and tell us what the win/loss statistics are since both clubs started competing against each other . Unfortunately, only SL games are now taken into consideration, by many, when records are posted.

Charriots Offiah wrote: ↑Tue Aug 23, 2022 8:53 pm I would have liked Keith to take this a bit further and tell us what the win/loss statistics are since both clubs started competing against each other . Unfortunately, only SL games are now taken into consideration, by many, when records are posted.

Yep! Like football only started in 1992...

2003 @JJB STADIUM

Raper said: 'Winning the Challenge Cup is the highlight of my career as a coach but today is the best victory I've been involved with because of the situation.'

Let's hope we keep this seasons fortress record intact

This is one of my hobby horses!

Wigan v Saints is the original Derby match - United v City, Liverpool v Everton and all the others round the world are just copies.

From Wikipedia:
"The term "derby" possibly originated from the Derby, a horse race in England, founded by the 12th Earl of Derby in 1780. The 19th Earl has since claimed the Derby name was originally only given to one other sporting event: fixtures between St Helens at one end of the family's Knowsley estate and Wigan at the other."

See also:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/ ... and-final-

To be fair that’s one of many theories , the main one being that it actually originated from the town / City of Derby.

There's nothing other than in folklore to suggest that the annual "football" match in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, was ever referred to as a "Derby". The 19th Earl Derby (a Stanley by the way!) is unequivocal on the subject, i.e the horse race and the rugby match are the only two sporting competitions that his family lend their name to.