SAINTS’ cruel, late defeat at Huddersfield means that the destiny of the League Leaders’ Shield is now out of their hands.

A late Leroy Cudjoe drop goal was the difference between the sides, with Saints twice badly fluffing their efforts to salvage the point needed to take the crown.

It had been a valiant effort from the Saints, reduced to 12 men following the red card for Alex Walmsley after his late tackle felled Giants scrum half Luke Robinson.

At that stage Saints were comfortable, leading 10-0 and beginning to look comfortably in control of the game.

Walmsley’s dismissal rapidly swung the pendulum the other way with Saints left hanging on for half time.

Saints had taken the lead on the quarter mark with a finely executed try scored by Tommy Makinson, after good centre play from Mark Percival.

Percival’s kick went wide – and that did not seem like it would be a costly miss moments later when James Roby, who had an outstanding game, snatched another.

But with Saints in the driving seat, Walmsley’s clumsy 28th minute tackle felled Robinson – the latter being escorted off groggily, with the former being shown where the soap is.

It was a bitter, bitter blow – and one that immediately pinched Saints with the Giants mounting wave after wave of attacks.

They held on until a penalty for offside on the line was punished with a Jake Connor grubber and regather try that was pretty fortuitous.

Trailing 10-6 at the break Giants started the second half with their tails up thanks to a blockbusting run from the aggressively impressive Ukuma Ta’ai. He scattered three players up the middle to set up the position for Shaun Lunt to part the bedraggled Saints defence to plant the ball down. Connor improved and Giants had a 12-10 lead.

And then a spilled Wellens ball handed Cudjoe a walk-in to push the lead up to 16-10, but there was no capitulation from the Saints, roared on by a magnificent travelling support, and they swaured the game up.

A powerful surging run from Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook set up the position for Lance Hohaia to saunter through on the right, with a nerveless conversion from Percival equalising with just under a quarter of the game remaining.

Huddersfield missed their first drop goal, but got the ball back as it had touched the charging player before going dead.

And from there Cudjoe chipped the ball between the uprights to leave Saints chasing the game with nine to play.

They had chances to level it, but were let down by poor execution.

Hohaia, the hero against Leeds a fortnight ago, appeared to take the ball too wide – and his kick flapped wide.

And then, after some inventive play from Makinson, Saints bought themselves another set in front of the Giants sticks.

Alas there was no spotting of players offside on the line this time. And it was a panic-stricken Saints who failed to get adequately positioned before Jordan Turner attempted a pot shot that failed to rise.

That was it – game over and one that felt like every inch a cup final defeat. Who said the shield didn’t matter?

To add to Saints’ woes, Walmsley will be in front of the disciplinary this week – and they also had a player of their own stretchered off with Matty Dawson appearing to take a bang to the head or neck.

Saints’ hopes now rest on Catalan – playing for nothing – taking a point off Castleford in Saturday night’s game in France.