Although Saints put in a monumental effort – arguably the best they have played against top ranking opposition since Good Friday – that they ultimately came up short was down largely to two or three key errors. Despite getting off to the worst possible start when Tommy Makinson dropped the kick off, leading to Warrington’s opening score from Toby King, Saints knuckled down and physically rattled the hosts. And there was, particularly in the first half, something refreshing about the way they attacked – finding opportunities on the wings with Makinson atoning for his first play error with two excellent finishes, with a Mark Percival score sandwiched in between.
Had Saints held that 16-4 lead going into the break then Warrington may have been revisted by the doubts that seem to perennially plague them at play-off time. But a special piece of play from the outstanding George Williams fashioned a score for Matty Ashton. In a pulsating second half, Saints hung on for a further 15 minutes until Daryl Clark was mugged by Danny Walker for a ball steal and from the subsequent foray King darted through from Williams’ pass to level matters.
The pendulum was now swinging back with the Wire and it was their turn to pin Saints back. That defensive pressure and the ferocity of their line speed contributed to a woeful Clark pass from dummy half hitting the deck and seconds later Ashton had darted over to give Wolves the lead. But Saints battled until the end, with Jon Bennison cros.
