SKIPPER Andy Farrell smashed the Wigan point-scoring record as Saints' grip on the Super League title was finally broken in front of a near 20,000 crowd at the JJB stadium.

The world champions were beaten for the first time in 12 knock-out games under Ian Millward with super Faz banging over eight goals to top the previous best of 423 points amassed by Kiwi star Frano Botica back in 1993.

It proved to be one game too many for the injury-hit Saints as the red-hot Warriors turned on a superb attacking performance to clinch a Grand Final date with the Bradford Bulls at Old Trafford next Saturday.

Wigan led 20-6 at half-time, outscoring the Saints by three tries to one and having another ruled out by video ref Gerry Kershaw.

He spotted that Steve Renouf had knocked on before Aussie pack star David Furner sidestepped his way under the sticks.

But Farrell soon made amends, slipping the tackle from John Stankevitch before changig direction to send scrum-half Adrian Lam racing over.

Fight back

Saints hit back when giant Kiwi centre Kevin Iro forced his way in from 10 yards, shrugging off three tackles.

But with half-backs Lam and Matty Johns running the show, the Warriors struck twice inside five minutes.

Tommy Martyn just managed to get a hand to Kris Radlinski as he headed for the line, but the full-back stretched out to plant the ball over the whitewash.

Hooker Terry Newton produced a terrific solo effort to grab Wigan's third, dummying his way through a huge gap from 20 yards.

Farrell's fourth goal of the half - his first penalty - left Saints facing a major test of their legendary powers of recovery.

But the Warriors were in no mood to let it slip with livewire Newton conjuring up two more quick tries, sending in Lam and then getting Johns in for Wigan's fifth with Farrell adding the extras.

Paul Sculthorpe gave Saints brief hope when he crashed in but normal service was resumed with Irish winger Brian Carney crossing twice.

He raced 50 yards for the first and then swooped on Farrell's kick to the line for his second.