It also went some way to avenge their shock defeat at Castleford in May.

The home side were given plenty of problems and led only 20-16 until eight minutes from time.

Bu then, young winger Adrian Gardner, the close-season capture from Barrow, went over for his first try for the club to secure the win for Castleford.

Saints, without regular goal-kickers Sean Long and Paul Sculthorpe, were also indebted to stand-in marksman Paul Wellens.

Coach Ian Millward left Wellens on the bench until just before half-time after his hectic week for Lancashire against Yorkshire in the Origin Series.

But Wellens showed no ill effects and booted five goals from five attempts with an impeccable display.

Castleford had led 6-0 with an early try from Danny Orr, converted by Wayne Bartrim.

But Saints recovered with two tries in three minutes from Darren Albert and Peter Shiels, both converted by Tommy Martyn, to lead 12-6.

Castleford hit back with Darren Rogers going over in the corner on 21 minutes before an overlap was created for Barrie-Jon Mather to go over, with Bartrim adding his second goal.

Wellens struck his first penalty in injury time just before the break to cut the gap to 16-14.

Three more Wellens penalties followed in the second-half, before Gardner sealed the points.

Castleford had prop Dean Sampson placed on report for a tackle on Mark Edmondson before the veteran was sinbined four minutes from time for interference.

St Helens: Albert, Kirkpatrick, Stewart, Newlove, Gardner, Gleeson, Martyn, Britt, Higham, Nickle, Joynt, Bennett, Shiels. Replacements: Wellens, Ward, Stankevitch, Edmondson.

Castleford: Warren, Pryce, Johnson, Mather, Rogers, Orr, Healey, Sykes, Bartrim, Sampson, Smith, Fritz, Harland. Replacements: Hudson, Lynch, Saxton, Rainey.

Referee: Karl Kirkpatrick