Cumbria no longer has an interest in the National Conference end-of-season play-offs.
Wath Brow Hornets were the last men standing after their game at Thatto Heath on Saturday was postponed because traffic congestion en route meant they couldn’t get there.
Subsequently they travelled last night for the Premier Division eliminator and were beaten 28-12 as their St Helens hosts booked a home tie on Saturday against Siddal.
The West Cumbrians had struggled in the first-half, trailing 18-0 at half-time but came back strongly to win the second-half 12-10 and go down fighting.
Connor Molyneux and Fran King scored the Wath Brow tries with Sam Curwen converting both.
The Hornets’ defeat followed similar reversals for Barrow Island and Seaton Rangers at the week-end when their play-off hopes ended dearly.
The Islanders looked to be going well at home to Woolston as they led 12-8 at half-time in the Division Two semi-final.
Tries by Ali McKeown and Sam Jones, both converted by Adam Jackson had given the Barrow side a hard-fought lead at the break after they had trailed 8-0.
But the Cumbrians did not score again until the end of the game with an unconverted try by Aidan Wright, by which time Woolston had raced into a big lead to eventually win 30-16.
Woolston will now travel to Clock Face Miners in Saturday’s play-off final.
In the Third Division, Seaton were denied a place in the final by a last minute try, slipping to a 20-18 home defeat to Shaw Cross Sharks.
The Sharks bit early, taking a 10-0 lead with two tries in the first eight minutes but a Ciaran Walker try, converted by Dominic Smallwood made it 6-10 at half-time.
A Tom Curwen try, converted by Smallwood right after half-time gave Seaton the lead but Shaw Cross hit back to lead 16-12 with a converted try.
Miguel Blanco-Charters grabbed Seaton’s third try on 57 minutes and Smallwood’s conversion took them two points clear.
It stayed that way until the last minute when Seaton went to sleep and the Sharks winger’s unconverted try was goo enough to seal the dramatic win.
The results have left Kells as Cumbria’s only winners in the end of season honours list after sealing the Division One title.
