It was heartbreak for Distington on the final day of the season for Division Three clubs in the National Conference.
Having led the table for most of the season the Conference newcomers saw the title go to East Leeds and the second automatic promotion place taken by local rivals Hensingham.
That left a final route to Division Two via the play-offs and after disposing of Beverley they were left with Drighlington, a team they had beaten twice during the season.
Cometh the hour, though, it was Drighlington who travelled to Distington and went home with promotion achieved through a 17-10 victory.
Distington coach Aiden Worthington said: “It was hard to take given how the season played out. But Saturday was the same story as what’s happened for most of the time – we can’t get our best 17 out.
“We had half our pack missing for various reasons and if we can fix that next season then we won’t be far away.”
In this winner-take-all showdown with Drighlington the west Cumbrians weren’t helped by three yellow cards, one of them was coach Worthington who had been forced to pull=-on his boots again. Jake Penrice and Jamie Friel also spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin.
By comparison, in a hard-fought, at times fierce battle the visitors had just one of their players yellow-carded.
Drighlington had gone in front with a try on 16 minutes from Braden Hunter before a quickn response by Distington saw Friel go in for a try which Scott George converted.
A penalty from Hunter right on half-time meant it was all to play for at half-time as they were locked at 6-6.
Drighlington regained the lead early in the second-half with a try from Alfie Ward which Hunter converted.
Scott Murrell gave added insurance with a field goal and before the hour mark Sam Thornton scored their third try.
Distington tried hard to cut the deficit but their only reward was an unconverted try by George two minutes from the end.
So, the Cumbrian split across the four tiers next season will be as follows – Premier Division: Wath Brown Hornets. Division One: Kells, Egremont. Division Two: Ellenborough, Barrow Island, Hensingham. Division Three: Distington, Millom, Seaton (who have to seek re-election).
