Saints 4 Wigan Warriors 42

DIRE! Disgraceful! Diabolical! Any of these charges and more besides could be laid at sorry Saints' door after they surrendered Super League's leadership crown to their arch-rivals.

Forecast as a cliff-hanger after Saints' last-gasp win at Wigan in July, this Minor Premiership decider proved just the opposite.

Saints' downfall was a lethal cocktail of appalling ball control and powder-puff tackling (more than 30 were missed) allied to lack of a kicking game and tactical awareness in wet conditions, which found them guilty of endless errors.

Superbly organised Wigan earned a week's rest and took the short cut to a possible Grand Final appearance via the midfeld promptings of Andy Farrell, Willie Peters and Terry Newton, while collectively the totally committed Warriors played tight, no-risk rugby.

Coach Frank Endacott's defensive game plan bordered on the telepathic as Saints' few attacks were cut down at source, with fully 64 minutes elapsing before the hapless home side scored their only try from Chris Joynt.

And, after the club's plea to fans to pack Knowsley Road to the rafters, home supporters had every right to feel let down with Saints giving their worst display of the season in the most important match.

Despite the mayhem, Saints' coach Ian Millward remained upbeat in saying that, after finishing runners-up, his side had a bad day at the office when nothing went right for them, and he was confident Saints would turn things round in the play-offs.

Joynt, Paul Wellens, Sean Long (despite wayward passing), Keiron Cunningham, Paul Sculthorpe, Sean Hoppe and the improving Steve Hall did best in a Saints side which, performance wise at least, was unrecognisabe from the one that won just a fortnight ago at Headingley.

Wigan's opening tries were gift-wrapped and came first when Neil Cowie brushed aside Julian O'Neill and Tommy Martyn, and then Willie Peters' chip-through saw Long lose possession in Kris Radlinski's tackle for Peters to touch down.

Farrell converted both, and the writing was on the wall for Saints within 20 minutes when Newton broke from dummy half to feed Radlinski, and he put Peters between the uprights, with the try resulting from Saints committing the cardinal error of turning their backs on the opposition

Wigan increased their lead when Farrell 'bombed' the scoreboard corner, and the ball richochetted from Hall and Gary Connolly for Brett Dallas to plunge over, and although the Warrior's captain failed to convert, he was on target with a penalty when Freddie Tuilagi fouled Cowie

Saints' almost broke their duck only for Sonny Nickle to have a try refused for obstruction, while Cunningham and Wigan's Tony Mestrov headed for a sin-bin after a bout of fisticuffs before half-time arrived with the score 24-nil.

Damage limitation was Saints' only hope and Hall raised the seige with a brilliant run, but it all became purely academic when Farrell, Radlinski, Peters and Newton swept away over 60 yards for Steve Renouf to apply the finishing touch

Substitute Brady Malam powered through to send in Jason Robinson before 'Joynty' notched Saints' consolation, but a Wigan side that bossed the show throughout ended as they began with a try - this time by local lad Connolly, with Farrell tacking on his seventh goal.