Wigan saved their best until last to bring St Helens' winning run to an end - but it was not enough to deny their arch rivals a fourth successive table-topping finish to the engage Super League season.
A 16-16 draw dashed Saints' bid for a club record 22nd successive victory but it was enough to keep them a point ahead of defending champions Leeds, who rounded off the regular season with a 30-12 win at Wakefield.
Fresh from their Challenge Cup final success, St Helens captain Keiron Cunningham lifted a second trophy in seven days and they remain favourites to complete a clean sweep in next month's Grand Final.
Saints, who fly out to Madrid tomorrow for a three-day training break, will have home advantage against the Rhinos in the qualifying semi-final in a fortnight's time.
Coach Daniel Anderson, who is being linked with a move to Penrith Panthers for next season, described the result as "very satisfying" after his side came from 12-0 down to claim the point they needed.
Wigan had been in sight of their first win at Knowsley Road for five years after taking advantage of the sin-binning of St Helens prop James Graham to score two tries in his absence through George Carmont and Joel Tomkins.
Graham took exception to an off-the-ball challenge from Wigan substitute Iafeta Paleaaesina and was sin-binned by referee Ashley Klein for retaliation, even though Saints were given the penalty.
A brace of tries from centre Matt Gidley and another from Ade Gardner, who finished the regular season with a table-topping 26 tries, enabled Saints to take the lead for the first time after 56 minutes but Wigan's Pat Richards tied the scores with a 40-metre penalty.
Richards also declined another penalty kick at goal from just inside his own half and narrowly missed with a drop-goal attempt.
"It was a good battle in horrible conditions," said Anderson. "The players put in a very good effort to claw back a 12-0 deficit. I got plenty from it.
"I thought it was a great game, very tasty from the start to the finish with plenty of controversy, which is always good for a Wigan-Saints game, and a lot of momentum changes."
Wigan's draw means they avoid having to travel to Perpignan to play Catalans Dragons in next weekend's play-offs and they could earn a home tie against Warrington or Bradford, depending on the outcome of tonight's matches.
After watching his side concede 149 points in the three earlier derbies this season, Warriors coach Brian Noble was jubilant over last night's result.
"There were plenty of things we did well and the really pleasing thing is the players are bubbly and ebullient," he said.
Leeds will also head into the play-offs in buoyant mood after finishing the regular season with a fourth successive win.
The champions were given a stiff examination by the Wildcats on a wet night at Belle Vue, securing victory only after skipper Kevin Sinfield broke a 12-12 deadlock in the final quarter and Ali Lauitiiti grabbed a late double.
Rhinos coach Brian McClennan said: "They really tested us. It was a good hit-out for us because we really had to go to the wire, so I'm really pleased."
Saturday, 6 September 2008
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