Great Britain full-back Paul Wellens scored a last-gasp try as St Helens snatched a thrilling 34-30 engage Super League victory over plucky Wakefield.

The Wildcats were on course to pull off the shock of the season when they led 30-18 after 55 minutes but never-say-die Saints hit back with three tries in the last 16 minutes to secure their third win in four games to move to within two points of leaders Leeds.

St Helens, with two 18-year-olds in their side, got off to a dream start with two tries in the first 10 minutes.

Hooker Keiron Cunningham set the standard, bursting through the Wakefield line to get Bryn Hargreaves into a gap and Leon Pryce was in support to score the opening try.

Three-quarters Matt Gidley and Ade Gardner then carved out an opening for Wellens to grab his first try of the season and Sean Long added both conversions to make it 12-0.

In danger of being overrun, the Wildcats struck back with two tries of their own, both from close range, in a 10-minute spell to draw level.

Prop Adam Watene powered over for a solo score and hooker Sam Obst nipped in from dummy half after Richard Moore had been hauled down short of the line.

A barnstorming try from St Helens prop James Graham restored Saints' lead but Wakefield struck again just before half-time when Jamie Rooney got back rower Brett Ferres charging through some wafer-thin defence.

Danny Brough converted all three of his side's tries to make it 18-18 at the break and the visitors hit the front 10 minutes into the second half when Rooney won the race to Brough's grubber kick on the last tackle.

Brough repeated the feat five minutes later for centre Sean Gleeson to score and maintained his 100% record with the boot to make it 30-18.

Wellens, who was switched to loose forward for the second half in the absence of Sculthorpe, broke through to send Gardner over after 64 minutes and Long's fourth goal cut the gap to six points.

That became two when Gardner took a delightful offload from Gidley to go in for his second try nine minutes from the end but the conversion was too difficult for Long.

With time running out, Long's speculative kick was hacked on by Francis Meli and he re-gathered to send Wellens over for his second and all-important try.