Two moments of history which unfolded during 2001 and remembered by many people around at the time.

Nearer home, it was a year still etched vividly in the memory of Warrington fans - the only occasion they have put Saints to the sword since the birth of Super League in 1996.

And only fleetingly did they look likely to end their dismal record in a bruising and at times feisty contest at the Halliwell-Jones Stadium on Saturday night, holding a slender lead three times.

But they were blown away in the latter stages as Saints posted three unanswered tries and turned what looked to be heading for a grandstand finish into a comfortable and well-merited victory.

Kyle Eastmond – heir-apparent to the no. 7 shirt which injured Sean Long will vacate at the end of the season – produced arguably his most polished performance for the club.

Eastmond, who will turn 20 on Friday, put the icing on his birthday cake with a top class all-round 80 minutes in which he scored one try and landed six conversions from eight attempts.

However, coach Mick Potter didn't go overboard when assessing the display of a player who still has a long way to go before becoming the finished article many predict.

Potter said: "Kyle was a little slow out of the blocks, but once he got into the game he controlled the team, looked lively and was involved in some big plays.

"He is probably first jump at the no. 7 shirt next season,but there is a lot of water under the bridge between now and then.

"Tonight was a big test for him, which he came through successfully, but we will have to see how he progresses."

Both sides had key personnel missing but the match maintained the kind of intensity always associated with this fixture - neither side giving an inch in the battle for supremacy and it was rather surprising that only Saints'.

Lee Gilmour was put on report for an alleged late tackle on Richie Mathers. One of two high tackles in a red-hot first-half certainly deserved at least similar punishment, or a spell in the sin-bin.

Warrington recovered from a shaky opening when Chris Bridge's kick-off went out on the full to snatch the lead with their first meaningful attack.

Louise Anderson and Matt King combined in a blistering break down the left before the Aussie centre sent the supporting Jon Clarke over and Bridge landed the goal.

But Saints bounced back with two tries in the space of five minutes to establish a 12-6 advantage.

James Roby and Eastmond set up Lee Gilmour with a fine piece of handling and then James Graham blasted his way over the whitewash.

Eastmond landed both goals and then extended Saints' lead to eight points via a penalty.

Bridge, who had been in the thick of the action from the start, cut the Wolves' deficit just after the half hour mark – darting over and then landing his second goal – but the league leaders struck again on the stroke of half-time.

Roby made an electrifying 60 metre burst down the left-hand side, and although halted by Lee Mitchell, he was able to keep the momentum going as Saints switched play to the opposite side of the park where Eastmond's long raking pass sent Ade Gardner over in the corner.

Warrington restored parity five minutes into the second half when substitute Paul Johnson cashed-in on some ineffectual tackling and Bridge maintained his 100 per cent kicking record.

It was a shot of adrenaline the Wolves needed and six minutes later they clawed their way in front.

Roby failed to gather Leon Pryce's far from accurate pass under pressure from burly Garreth Carvell and the former Hull prop – not renowned for his speed off the mark – scorched 70 metres to score with Bridge taking his goal tally to four.

But with adversity staring them in the face, Saints hit back to draw level in the 56th minute when Eastmond masterminded a try for Paul Wellens and then landed his fourth goal.

They fell behind a third time to a 67th minute Chris Bridge penalty but it proved a minor hiccup.

Eastmond roared in on the back of great support play from Pryce, Graham and Wellens after 70 minutes and then four minutes from time Graham smashed his way over the whitewash for a second time.

Man of the match Eastmond slotted over both goals but failed to add the extras to Saints' seventh and final try in the 77th minute – Jon Wilkin's astute kick being seized on by Francis Meli who crashed over in the left-hand corner.

Warrington may have felt the final scoreline did them little justice but the reality of the situation is that their record against Saints in 14 years of Super League remains a millstone around their neck and shows no sign of abating.

No doubt their frustrated fans will be hoping both clubs reach the Carnegie Challenge Cup Final at Wembley next month, giving the Wolves a chance to lay their bogey to rest on the ultimate stage. It goes without saying, Saints will have other ideas.

Teams Warrington Wolves: Mathers, Carney, Grix, King, Riley, Bridge, Monaghan, Wood, Clarke, Carvell, Anderson (L.), Westwood, Harrison. Subs: Johnson, Cooper, Anderson (V.) Mitchell (all used).
Saints: Wellens, Gardner, Wheeler, Gilmour, Meli, Pryce, Eastmond, Graham. Roby, Clough. Wilkin, Flannery, Puletua.
Subs: Dixon, Fa'asavalu, Hargreaves, Lomax.
Referee: Richard Silverwood.
Attendance: 12, 075.