FEELINGS must have been mixed after bowling over the reigning champions on their own patch as Wolves’ disappointing 2015 campaign ended on Thursday.

Victory at Langtree Park, one that ended Saints hopes of a home play-off tie, is always welcome but everyone was asking afterwards: “Why couldn’t they have played like that all year?”

Especially coming on the back of big wins against Hull FC and Catalans Dragons during September too.

Albeit against tired-looking title chasers who struggled to maintain possession for the opening 50 minutes, Wolves’ pack was dominant and the backline looked co-ordinated, sharp and penetrative – unlike during long periods of the past seven months.

Five Warrington tries ruled out by video referee Phil Bentham, including four for Kevin Penny, point out how much wider the margin of victory could have been.

It was almost as if without the pressure of needing to win, there was a freedom to express with some eye-catching rugby. Yet there was a period when Wolves could have seen their good work come undone.

After scores from assured young full back Jack Johnson, a 145th in 145 appearances from Joel Monaghan, a 25-metre effort from prop Chris Hill and a powerful surge from Ryan Atkins, Saints lifted the intensity and got their act together so that tries from Adam Swift and Mark Flanagan put the game back in the balance at 20-16 on 56 minutes.

With tails lifted and the home crowd suddenly alive, Wolves defended magnificently at one end and came close three times through Penny disallowed efforts at the other.

And that was how the match was decided too.

Somehow, prop Roy Asotasi sprung from nowhere to haul down deceptive Saints full back Adam Quinlan on the last tackle a few metres from the try line.

And then on the next set Asotasi timed his run perfectly to accept a wonderful Ben Westwood offload to dive over with a salute to the wildly-jubilant several hundred Wire fans in front of him.

Penny’s efforts were finally rewarded with an interception try and the celebrations showed what it meant to all to send the likes of departing Monaghan, Asotasi and Richie Myler off with a win.

The night’s other 14 players, a stack of new arrivals and the likes of Matty Russell, Rhys Evans, Ben Evans, James Laithwaite, Gene Ormsby, Toby King, Sam Wilde and Dec Patton will be back to try and make 2016 Wire’s year.

INTERESTING NOTES

First season since 2009 in which Wolves have not won more games than they lost

Sixth is Wolves’ lowest finishing position since 10th in 2009

Ben Currie’s 19 tries make him the first forward to finish top of The Wire try charts since Bob Eccles with 18 in 1984-85

First win v Saints in four attempts in 2015

MATCH FACTS

Super 8s Round 7, Thursday, September 24, 2015

St Helens...16 Warrington Wolves...32

Saints: Adam Quinlan; Tommy Makinson, Mark Percival, Josh Jones, Adam Swift; Jordan Turner, Luke Walsh; Kyle Amor, James Roby, Andre Savelio, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Joe Greenwood, Jon Wilkin. Subs: Mose Masoe, Atelea Vea, Mark Flanagan, Greg Richards.

Wolves: Jack Johnson; Joel Monaghan, Stefan Ratchford, Ryan Atkins, Kevin Penny; Richie Myler, Chris Sandow; Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Ben Westwood, Ben Currie, George King. Subs: Ben Harrison, Roy Asotasi, Brad Dwyer, Joe Philbin.

Scoring: Greenwood try, 9mins, Walsh goal, 6-0; Johnson try, 14mins, Sandow goal, 6-6; Monaghan try, 31mins, 6-10; Hill try, 34mins, 6-14; Atkins try, 50mins, Sandow goal, 6-20; Swift try, 52mins, 10-20; Flanagan try, 57mins, Walsh goal, 16-20; Asotasi try, 77mins, Sandow goal, 16-26; Penny try, 80mins, Monaghan goal, 16-32.

Penalties: Saints 5 Wolves 4

Referee: James Child

Attendance: 10,966

Top man: Ben Westwood