SAINTS’ season has ended in controversy after they were knocked out in the semi-final at Warrington.

But they had a number of causes for complaint after failing to get the rub of the green in the first half and then falling foul to a couple of try/no-try calls at both ends of the field that ensured defeat.

After leading 10-8 at the break, Warrington nudged ahead on 52 minutes with a Stefan Ratchford try from dummy half.

Although Saints had high hopes of wrestling their way back in it going into the last quarter, a Tom Lineham try was gven despite him appearing to lose the ball.

And then as Saints chased the game, Dominique Peyroux’s try was sent upstairs as a no try leaving the video ref with insufficient evidence to overturn it.

In the end Saints simply ran out of time, but the defeat will leave a bitter taste in the mouths to sign off with.

The first half was a good 40 minutes of both sides testing each other out, with Saints managing to hold the Wolves when their big men Ashton Sims and Chris Hill were on the park.

The sides swapped penalties and then following a harsh penalty against Mark Percival when he was adjudged to have tackled a falling Ratchford high, Wolves marched up the field.

There they engineered a chance for Kurt Gidley to cross on the half hour.

Saints were holding on, but they countered majestically when a wonder ball from Jordan Turner released Adam Swift down the flank.

He showed the defence a clean pair of heels before turning it back inside for the impeccable Jonny Lomax to do the rest.

A Walsh goal and then a penalty on the stroke of half time nudged saints 10-8 ahead at the break.

Lomax showed his defensive prowess at the start of the second half when he foiled a tryline bound Rhys Evans.

But Wolves got back on the fron foot from a Jon Wilkin penalty on half way, which coincided with Sims and Hill returning.

The noise lifted and Wolves responded.

Saints defended valiantly, but another penalty was a bridge too far with Ratchford then nipping in from dummy half to put Wolves ahead.

For the next 15 minutes, Saints seemed content to play a holding game, pinning Warrington back.

In hindsight, maybe they should have offered more urgency with the ball.

But maybe they thought they were going to get a fair crack, if they hung in there.

Alas, the calls were against them and all in all it became a disappointing end to the year.

Saints’ support, who backed them magnificently, did their best to lift their team at the end and after the game.

But knockout games are hard enough to take at the best of times, let alone when a shadow has been cast over them.