Wigan's Andy Coley is tackled by Chris Flannery of Saints

St Helens fought back from a 12-0 first-half deficit to draw with Wigan and secure the Super League leaders' shield for the fourth season in a row.

With the hosts down to 12 men after James Graham was sin-binned Wigan went ahead through converted tries from George Carmont and Joel Tomkins.

Matt Gidley got Saints on the board but a Pat Richards goal made it 14-6.

Ade Gardner and Gidley then crossed to put Saints ahead but Richards kicked another goal to secure the draw.

On a wet night in the North West, Wigan had the upper hand territorially in the opening stages but they could not force a breakthrough until Graham was sin-binned.

He was hit late by Paleaaesina and without the ball, and although the Wigan man was penalised, it was only Graham who saw yellow.

The visitors took advantage of their extra man six minutes later as Carmont stepped inside the cover before crossing and they soon added a second try.

Trent Barrett opened up Saints with a crisp pass across the face of the defence and Tomkins powered through a tackle to score.

With the prolific Richards converting both, Graham re-entered the fray with his side 12-0 down.

With just over a minute left in the half Gidley got the hosts on the board as he went over with a couple of tacklers hanging off him, with the video referee giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Sean Long converted from wide out to ensure Saints only trailed 12-6 at the break and although Richards extended Wigan's lead with a penalty, Saints started to assume control.

Gardner crossed in the right-hand corner after quick hands from Gidley and Long was unerring from the touchline to cut the gap to two.

And Gidley went over himself with just over 20 minutes remaining for an unconverted try to put the hosts into the lead for the first time all night.

St Helens then thought they had scored a decisive try but Francis Meli's effort was chalked off for a double movement.

And Richards landed a long-range penalty to secure a share of the points and send them fourth, although the Australian missed a last-gasp drop-goal that would have given Wigan victory.

Saints coach Daniel Anderson:
"It felt like a loss but I don't think they should be too hard on themselves.

"In the end they've achieved the League leadership and finished top of the comp on their own. We still haven't been beaten in 22 matches and we've a home game against Leeds."

Anderson on the Graham/Paleaaesina incident:
"I think if you deserve to be sin-binned for threatening retaliation after being hit high, late and off the ball, the instigator also deserves to be sin-binned."

Wigan coach Brian Noble:
"I thought it was a really good, solid performance to take into the play-offs.

"We lost a little bit of discipline in the middle of the second period but some of the things we did were very good.

"The players are bubbly. It was a great effort from the team and I am pleased they showed the vigour that we haven't shown for the last three weeks."

St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Talau, Meli, Roby, Long, Fozzard, Cunningham, Graham, Gilmour, Wilkin, Flannery.
Replacements: Hargreaves, Clough, Fa'asavalu, Eastmond.

Wigan: Mathers, Phelps, Goulding, Carmont, Richards, Barrett, Leuluai, Fielden, Higham, Coley, Hansen, Bailey, J. Tomkins.
Replacements: Paleaaesina, Colbon, Prescott, Smith.