Both Cumbrian sides contesting the National Conference Finals Day at Featherstone finished as losers.
Wath Brow lost 18-10 to Thatto Heath in the main event, the Grand Final while Kells lost 32-6 to West Hull in the Shield Final.
But it was a controversial defeat for the Hornets, as one of the Crusaders’ tries was clearly offside.
The St. Helens side were leading 6-0 when two minutes before half-time when Lewis Fairhurst tried a drop at goal from 20 metres.
It drifted wide but scrum-half Ryan Houghton had followed-up the kickand dived on the loose ball over the Hornets’ try line.
The Wath Brow players protested that Houghton had come from an offside position to score but the try was given sand converted for an interval lead of 12-0.
Peter Caddy scored wide-out eight minutes into the second-half but James Tracey’s second try on 63 minutes, and a penalty by Fairhurst, gave Hornets too much to do.
They did score the try of the game on 72 minutes but too late to affect the result. Fran King made a superb 50 metre break and put scrum-half Daniel Burns in for the try which Cole Walker-Taylor converted.
Wath Brow coach Ian Rooney praised Thatto Heath but had to refer to the controversial try which had such an impact on the game.
He said: “Congratulations to Thatto Heath.They are a fantastic club, very well coached and very well-drilled.
“However, the player who passed the ball from dummy half to the lad who had the attempted field goal, was the one who scored the try which just isn’t possible. He was eleven yards offside.
“Referees do a very hard job and we wouldn’t have a game without them but how none of the match officials didn’t pick this one up is beyond me.
“The decision left us twelve points behind and we then started chasing the game and doing things we don’t do normally. It cost us.”
Kells were never really in the hunt against West Hull in the Shield final after conceding two tries in the first 11minutes.
They trailed 16-0 at the break and were 26-0 behind when Aaron Burns got them on the scoreboard with a try, converted by Grant Gainford.
The Kells coach Steve Kirkbride said: “We didn’t turn-up and West Hull were much the better team. They were more composed and deserved the win.
“Maybe the occasion got to some of our lads, although Ross Ainley had a big game at prop. We will learn from the experience and be back.”
