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The Warriors finally got their first win in eight attempts against the Saints as they played desperately and decisively enough to scrape by the skin of their teeth into the playoffs.

A second half try from Liam Colbon proved the difference as they won 20-12

In a chilly night in Wigan, Jon Wilkin continued in place of Sean Long and James Graham replaced the injured Nick Fozzard.

Hansen and Hock returned for Wigan in the second row and on the bench respectively.

After being unable to be presented with the League Leaders trophy because of ‘security issues’, a number of Saints fans made their own and held them aloft as the team ran out onto the pitch.

And everyone at saintsrlfc.com thanks them for it – a great reception from the best fans in the league to the best team.

In an absolute classic 'ebb and flow' Derby, Wigan started off strongly managing to force a drop out, but a few seconds later they knocked on and Saints took the ball up.

Barrett then cheekily kicked into the Saints 10 and Wilkin watched it go dead.

From the scrum Leon and Gids drove the Saints to within metres, but Cunningham knocked on in the centre.

A minute later Bennett did the same as he closed in on the tryline.

Another forced drop out a few moments later and Wigan were within five minutes of the tryline, but another chip kick was excellently fielded by Gardner when most of the Wigan crowd were celebrating a try.

It was a welcome break to Saints who had been forced to defend for nearly 18 tackles.

And boy did they make them pay. Up the field they went on the back of a penalty. Pryce and Graham then did the hard yards before the former sent out a great ball to Talau who went over in the corner. 4-0. Wello unlucky with the extras.

Wigan hit back a few minutes later when David Vaealiki sold Gardner a dummy and trotted in from around 50 yards. It was a poor choice by the flying Cumbrian but the Wigan centre showed great pace to put sprint Paul Wellens. Richards added the extras and it was game on once again.

On 27 minutes Wilkin put in a beautiful chip kick that was taken by Meli who scooted along the touchline only to see his inside pass taken on the bounce by scrambling defence.

But Wigan knocked on almost immediately and on the next set of six, Pryce fired a high kick into the corner that Gards took at full stretch to go over in the corner. Superb. Wellens then banged over a pearler.

But with six minutes to go in the half, Meli dropped the ball ten yards from his own line. Advantage Wigan…. Yet, amazingly, the Warriors knocked on immediately and any chance of a score was lost.

Pryce then tried a speculative kick to the corner which Meli couldn’t take cleanly and on the next set, Wigan went close only for Leuluai to throw out a poor pass… into the hands of a Saints’ player.

Half time 10-6 to the League Leaders.

First tackle of second half, Saints gang-tackled a Wigan player into touch and got possession 20 yards out. But a lacklustre set of six failed to yield a scoring chance.

And Wigan hit back immediately through Leuluai who went over to the left of the posts. Richards then put the home ahead.

The Warriors were on fire and another set of six close to the Saints line gave them a great chance to go further ahead. But Goulding had too many options and dropped the ball with the path to the line clear.

After 57 minutes Barrett was put on report for swinging in the tackle and Saints, fired up themselves, flew to within five metres of the line. But Roby kicked to no one and the chance was lost.

Calderwood then took advantage of some poor defending to bounce on a loose ball over the tryline, but was adjudged to be offside from a Phil Bailey kick with the home fans going bananas.

A welcome let off and a cry, if there ever was one, for the Saints to wake up.

Bailey then went high on Clough and Wellens took a pot shot from in front of the sticks and leveled the scores.

No let up – with 20 minutes to go – Paul Wellens managed to knock the ball dead after a clever grubber from Barrett.

From the drop-out, Trent went close, and then Liam Colbon scored what proved to be the winner n the corner. Richards wide with the extras.

Richards then added a penalty to take the Warriors further out.

On 74 minutes, Klein robbed Saints of a clear launchpad for an attack by adjudging Keiron Cunningham had knocked on when there were at least three players on him and from the next set of six, Wigan forced a drop out.

Wello then failed to kick it ten yards and Richards added the penalty to ensure Wigan featured in the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.

To make matters worse, Flannery dropped the ball on the way to certain score to secure a great evening for the Warriors.

Match Summary:

Saints:

Tries: Talau, Gardner

Goals: Wellens (2 from 3)

Wigan:

Tries: Vaealiki, Leuluai, Colbon

Goals: Richards (4 from 5)

Penalties:

Saints: 13

Wigan: 6

HT: 10-6

FT: 20-12

ATT: 22,031

MOM: Paul Wellens (chosen by Mike Critchley of the St Helens Star)

REF: Ashley Klein

Teams:

Saints:

1. Paul Wellens; 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 4. Willie Talau, 5. Francis Meli; 6. Leon Pryce, 12. Jon Wilkin; 17. James Graham, 9. Keiron Cunningham, 10. Jason Cayless, 11. Lee Gilmour, 15. Mike Bennett, 30. Chris Flannery.

Subs: 14. James Roby, 18. Bryn Hargreaves, 22. Paul Clough, 23. Maurie Fa’asavalu.

Wigan:

5. Pat Richards; 2. Mark Calderwood, 3. Phil Bailey, 14. David Vaealiki, 23. Liam Colbon; 6. Trent Barrett, 7. Thomas Leuluai; 8. Stuart Fielden, 16. Shane Millard, 10. Iafeta Paleaaesina, 19. Harrison Hansen, 12. Bryan Fletcher, 13. Sean O'Loughlin.

Subs: 9. Mickey Higham, 11. Gareth Hock, 18. Paul Prescott, 20. Darrell Goulding.