Lowca’s return to Challenge Cup action after over 25 years ended in a glorious failure.
The villagers had led from the fourth minute for most of the game, regaining the advantage after briefly losing the lead in the second-half, until the 71st minute and eventually went under 28-22 to Edinburgh Eagles.
It was a significant day, too, for the Scots visitors as like Lowca they had gone into the contest never having won a Challenge Cup tie.
Lowca coach Lee Allen said: “It was disappointing to lose after being in front for so long but I am very proud of how the team performed.
In the end it was probably their inexperience which cost us while we struggled with some of the new laws.
“We were still very much in the contest after they took the lead for the first time but we had two players sent off, along with one of theirs, and that proved to big a handicap over the last seven minutes.
“It was an encouraging effort overall, however, and we can look forward now to the start of the Cumberland ARL season.”
Allen’s side had made a flying start with a try by Mitchell Todd after only four minutes but the Scots were level on 12 minutes with a try by Ross Mawdesley.
Jamie Scott put the villagers back in front with a penalty four minutes later and then on 20 minutes Luke Stockton made it 10-4 with an unconverted try.
It stayed that way until half-time but within a minute of the re-start the Eagles had drawn level with a try from Viliame Rokobuli which was converted by Rory Hamilton.
Back came Lowca and on 45 minutes Matthew Needham scored their third try which Scott converted as the game ebbed and flowed.
It seemed to be going Edinburgh’s way when Mark Robertson (48) and Apenai Kororua (51) scored unconverted tries in quick succession.
Again Lowca roared back to lead when Stockton went in for his second try on 58 minutes and this time Keith Campbell put over the successful conversion.
But within sight of a famous victory it all went wrong for the West Cumbrians.
On 71 minutes Edinburgh regained the lead with a try from Lewis Clarke and two minutes later a fight ended with referee Lucas Seel showing red cards to Lowca pair Jamie Haile and Greg Smith as well as Edinburgh’s Fijian full-back Rokobuli.
Two minutes from time the Eagles completed their comeback with the final try of the game from Terry Logan which sealed the victory.
