Langtree Park was the venue for the first of the weekends crucial final round of Super League Super 8s. The four teams for the semi-finals were already known but each could still finish in any order, as only a single point separated the top four at the start of play.

The Warrington Wolves were out of the equation and had nothing to lose in their last game of the season. A win for the visitors would condemn Saints to fourth spot, barring a massive win for the Rhinos at the Giants on Friday night. A win for the home side would put them top of the pile and give them a chance of a home semi-final.

Both sides were unchanged after wins last week, the Saints dramatically over Wigan, and the Wolves convincingly over the Dragons, as the Wolves looked to avoid a fourth 2015 defeat to St. Helens.

The Wolves had a try ruled out after two minutes for a small push on Tommy Makinson when Saints opened the scoring on eight minutes when a Chris Hill pass went astray and Luke Walsh put Joe Greenwood through a gap off a James Roby acting half-back play. Walsh added the extras.

Warrington were level on twelve minutes with a well worked try down the right wing, made by a delightful inside pass from Stefan Ratchford which went into the hands of Jack Johnson to round the last defender and score. Chris Sandow kicked the two.

There would be a seventeen minute wait for the next points and after having another try ruled out by the video referee, it was the Wolves who edged in front when Stefan Ratchford dummied off a Richie Myler pass and found Joel Monaghan in support to score in the corner. Sandow slid the ball wide but his side had a 10-6 lead.

On thirty-five the Wire extended their lead when Sandow dummied and kicked through, Richie Myler dribbled the ball forward before Chris Hill pushed past three Saints defenders to dive over. Sandow again failed with the kick but the visitors took an eight point lead into the interval against a Saints side who were showing signs of weariness.

With nine minutes on the second half clock the Wolves further extended their lead when Ryan Atkins managed to reach over on his back and ground with his little finger after a barnstorming Ratchford break. Sandow kicked the two and put the Wolves well and truly in the driving seat.

But within two minutes a Jon Wilkin kick was collected and scored by a diving Adam Swift. Walsh failed with the boot but the arrears were down to ten points.

On fifty-five, and after another Warrington video referee try denial, Saints scored by the posts when Mark Flanagan crashed over off a Jordan Turner pass. Walsh added the extras and from being out of the game, the home side were within four points of the visitors.

Ten minutes from time and a Sandow grubber was knocked on by Kevin Penny in the act of scoring, the fourth Warrington try disallowed by the video referee.

Two minutes later and a Myler kick through was collected and grounded by Penny but again the video referee turned down the try for a push in the build-up.

Four minutes from time and a sensational Ben Westwood offload went into the hands of Roy Asostasi to cover the remaining five metres to ground by the sticks. This time the decision wasn't sent upstairs and referee Child pointed to the spot. Sandow's boot made it 26-16.

Kevin Penny finally got on the score sheet with fifteen seconds left on the clock when he intercepted and went twenty metres to score. Joel Monaghan kicked the goal after the hooter had sounded for a sixteen point Wolves win.

The sixteen point margin doesn't really do justice to the extent of the Warrington win. Apart from the odd few minutes of Saints inspiration, it was Warrington all the way and with five tries ruled out by the video referee the winning margin could have been a lot greater.

Saints can't now do any better than fourth and will wait nervously to see where they will be travelling in the semi-finals. The Champions will have to do it the hard way in 2015 and win it from fourth.

Saints: Quinlan, Makinson, Percival, Jones, Swift (T), Turner, Walsh (2G), Amor, Roby, Savelio, Greenwood (T), McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Wilkin. Subs: Masoe, Flanagan (T), Richards, Vea.

Wolves: Johnson (T), Penny (T), Ratchford, Atkins (T), Monaghan (T, G), Myler, Sandow (3G), Hill (T), Clark, Sims, Westwood, Currie, King. Subs: Harrison, Asostasi (T), Dwyer, Philbin.

Referee: James Child
Attendance: 10,996