SAINTS' trophy drought is over.

Castleford's defeat against Catalan Dragons in Perpignan this evening means that Saints have won the League Leaders' Shield.

Nathan Brown's men have finished top of the Super League after 27 rounds, two points clear of second placed Wigan.

It is the first trophy piece of silverware Saints have carried off since winning the Challenge Cup and Shield in 2008 - significantly their first pot since the departure of Daniel Anderson.

Saints had thought they blown it after last night's heart-breaking one-point defeat at Huddersfield - their second consecutive defeat.

Although there was a mood of despondency among the Saints fans leaving the ground last night, there was also solace taken from the spirit the team showed after playing the last hour with 12 men.

Although cup finalists Castleford had fancied taking the spoils against a Dragons side, simply playing for pride - the Catalans had other ideas.

An added bonus for Saints will be a guaranteed spot in the expanded World Club series to be played in February.

It also means that injury-hit Saints will get a home game against the fourth-placed Tigers on a date to be confirmed this week - likely to be Friday.