Cumbria will not have a representative in the fifth round of the Challenge Cup when the five ties are played on the weekend of March 9 and 10.
Wath Brow Hornets were the only side to fly the flag for the county in the fourth round and they lost to fellow amateurs York Acorn.
But it was a close run thing and after trailing 18-6; leading 24-18 and being level 24-24 going into the last quarter, they eventually went down 32-28.
The two National Conference Premier Division rivals served-up an entertaining contest which was in doubt right up to the final whistle.
It ended five tries apiece but the sides were separated by Ant Chilton’s six out of seven successful kicks against Cole Walker Taylor’s four out of six.
The veteran Chilton had put Acorn ahead after 16 minutes with a nicely taken try which he converted. He then added a penalty soon afterwards to stretch the home lead to 8-0.The Hornets responded after 22 minutes when Fran King did the spadework for Greg Howland to dive over in the corner for an unconverted try.
A nicely created try from Joe Porter, converted by Chilton, extended he home lead but it was 14-6 at the break when Walker Taylor put over a late penalty.
Within three minutes of the re-start Josh Parker was over for Acorn for an unconverted try but that sparked a purple patch from Hornets as they forged a 24-18 lead.
Peter Caddy got on he end of a smart handling move to touchdown after 48 minutes and Walker-Taylor added the extras.
Two tries from young prop Jake Pearce, all converted by Walker-Taylor, saw Wath Brow surge ahead by the hour mark and raise hopes of victory.
On 62 minutes Eddie Prescott scored a try for Acorn and Chilton’s conversion pulled them level. Within minutes Chilton had put his side back ahead when he landed a penalty.
It was anyone’s game, though, and the next try was going to be crucial. It went Acorn’s way on 74 minutes from prop Jack Byrnes and Chilton’s conversion forged an eight point gap.
Hornets battled right the way to the end but a last minute, unconverted try from prop Callum Farrer wasn’t enough.
