SHANNON McDonnell grabbed a second half hat-trick as Saints rounded off the league programme with their 11th win from 12 encounters.

There was not much of a bounce about the match, with the first half in particular having that dead-rubber feel to it.

Although Saints always looked comfortable, spirited Wakefield’s carefree approach with the ball did ask a few questions.

It took a Jonny Lomax tackle to stop stand-off Craig Hall when he looked as though he was through.

Saints had not had much in the way of an attack in the flat opening quarter but after a penalty had given them good position on 22 minutes, they crossed.

Prop Kyle Amor’s short ball sent Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook steaming on to it and he twisted his way over.

Walsh converted that to make it 6-0.

Saints pressed again when a good chase of Luke Walsh’s bomb forced a knock on from Tom Johnstone.

From there Joe Greenwood was stopped short and then scrappy grubber from Jordan Turner was defused.

But Wakefield showed that they were not here to make up numbers and back-to-back penalties helped Wakefield clear the line and put them back on the attack.

After Liam Finn had been stopped short, Hall dashed through for a 29th minute try.

As a flat half drew to a close a long ball from Lomax sent Jack Owens running hard and straight, cutting inside to beat two men on the line.

Walsh converted it 12-4, but a short ball from restart allowed Wakefield to retrieve it.

And a high ball as hooter sounded earned them a penalty which Finn converted to make it 12-6 at the break.

Saints had more energy in the second half and there was a change in personnel with Mark Percival taken off after his first half return to action.

Fages switched from nine to six and Jordan Turner moved to centre.

It turned into a productive combination on the left.

Although Greenwood went over for a try from a well worked move, it was chalked off for obstruction.

But Saints were soon back for more with a solo effort from McDonnell starting the ball rolling.

He received ball on the wing and then used fine footwork to dash down the flank to cross the line – and despite the cover tackle he got the ball down.

Walsh’s conversion made it 18-6 A Saints handling error then gifted Trinity some good field position, and after they had forced a drop out Dominique Peyroux’s missed a tackle, allowed space for a scuffed kick wide which was collected by speedster Tom Johnstone who did the rest.

Finn’s conversion cut deficit to six points on the hour mark, but that was as close as it got.

And Saints found that little bit to up the tempo and once again the ball flashed along the line where Fages and Turner combined to put McDonnell in for his second to make it 22-12.

And that left-hand gang again proved profitable with the ball again fanned wide where Turner again provided the last pass for McDonnell to cross for his hat-trick.

The crowd lapped it up - and let the hard-working Australian know it.

And to give the score a more flattering look Fages weaved his way over from an Amor offload, to score Saints’ sixth try of the night.

Walsh’s goal made it 32-12, a satisfying scoreline, which combined with some half decent individual displays will give coach Keiron Cunningham a selection headache next week for the semi when James Roby, Greg Richards and Adam Swift will return.