BBC SPORT | Rugby League | Super League | Super Saints finish top of the pile

London 16-18 St Helens

St Helens withstood a dramatic London Broncos fightback to clinch top spot in the Tetley's Super League.

Tommy Martyn scored Saints' first try after just 90 seconds
Martyn scored Saints' first try after just 90 seconds
The Broncos recovered from 14 points down to come within inches of clinching a vital victory in an enthralling encounter at Griffin Park.

But ultimately they saw their season come to an end when Tony Martin failed by inches to touch down Jim Dymock's last-minute kick.

And Castleford's win at Salford was the final nail in the coffin for the capital outfit's play-off hopes.

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Saints will now have vital home advantage against arch-rivals Bradford Bulls as they bid for a place in Super League's grand final.

The visitors took the lead against the Broncos after just 90 seconds of Sunday's match.

The difference was we kicked our goals and they didn't

St Helens coach
Ian Millward

Tommy Martyn intercepted Dennis Moran's pass and raced 55 metres to touch down.

Wildcats escape the drop

Paul Sculthorpe added the conversion and followed up with a penalty before Martyn's pass found Anthony Stewart unmarked out wide for the second try.

Sculthorpe converted again but the Broncos got back into the game on 14 minutes when hooker Jason Hetherington crossed from dummy half.

Broncos try-scorer Jason Hetherington
Hetherington's team finished in seventh spot
And 10 minutes later Dom Peters took advantage of Paul Wellens' hesitation to touch down Steele Retchless' kick ahead.

Saints refused to lie down, though, and substitute Sean Hoppe touched down Sculthorpe's kick to the corner seven minutes before half time.

The Broncos started the second half in more determined fashion and the game appeared to be turning in their favour.

Martin touched down Moran's kick on 44 minutes after Stewart was caught in two minds.

And seven minutes later, full-back Paul Sykes brushed aside three tackles to score.

London would have won the game had Sykes not missed his three conversions, although they all were from acute angles.

We could have been smarter and played with a bit more experience

Ian Millward

The Broncos tried valiantly to find a way through Saints' resolute defence in the closing moments but were ultimately held at bay.

St Helens coach Ian Millward was delighted at finishing in first place but admitted he was concerned about skipper Chris Joynt, who was rushed to hospital less than an hour before kick-off after collapsing in the dressing room.

"It would appear Chris has had some kind of allergic reaction to something in much the same way as he did before the Origin game.

"We are not sure what it is. He is due to have some tests on Monday. We thought we had got to the bottom of it last time."

London: Sykes, Hall, Roy, Martin, Peters, Gillett, Moran, Marshall, Hetherington, Stephenson, Retchless, Toshack, Dymock. Replacements: Dean, Budworth, Jackson, Houles.

St Helens: Wellens, Albert, Gleeson, Newlove, Stewart, Sculthorpe, Martyn, Britt, Higham, Nickle, Stankevitch, Jonkers, Shiels. Replacements: Hoppe, Bennett, Ward, Edmondson.

Referee: Colin Morris (Huddersfield).