Saints coach Paul Wellens rested several front-line players going into the game but after three consecutive defeats he wanted a morale-boosting win, and only just got it.
Cas had lost six of their previous seven games and shipped 62 points at Wigan Warriors last week but they appeared to heed interim coach Chris Chester’s words after he said they were playing to try to impress incoming coach Ryan Carr, who takes over next season.
It looked like they might be in for a torrid night when 20-year-old Stephens crashed over for an early try but Tate’s two tries gave the travelling support something to finally cheer about.
Feldt levelled the score with a graceful leap and pirouette from Jonny Lomax’s delicate chip and Bell, who will join Hull FC next season, injected fresh energy and added another try to ensure the home side went in ahead at half-time.
Lomax and Feldt combined again for the Australian to score his second try early in the second half and Bennison, another of Saints’ host of departing players, marked possibly his last game for the club with another which seemed to seal the win.
Feldt then appeared to injure his back in a tackle and left the field in pain.
And a tiring Saints side almost threw away the lead as Wood went in at the corner, Tate gave new coach Carr a nudge with his third on the night and Horne led a breakaway charge to close the gap to two points.
In the end, only Hoy’s conversion rate of two from five cost Cas a win their spirited performance merited.