Distington, who have just completed a double in the Iggesund Cumberland ARL, have been denied the chance to move up to the National Conference League.

The village club, Premier Division and Grand Final winners locally, applied to join the NCL for the 2019 season but were turned down.

Coach Carl Hewer is particularly disappointed because it could mean some of his current squad walk away from the game.

He said: "They were looking for a new challenge.

"We had won the Cumbria Men’s League and now the Cumberland Premier League, and they wanted to step up and test themselves at national level.

"We have first-class facilities at Distington – excellent in fact for a small village – but we did not meet the National Conference criteria of having a second team or an Under-16s side.

"In the season just ended, I had a squad of 25 playing and have blooded six younger players between the ages of 16 and 18 but it would be difficult to run two senior teams each week.

"We have youngsters playing for Lowca Under-16s but the two of us would find it difficult running a team each.

"Over the years, Distington have not been a team who go out and poach players from other clubs. If someone asks to join us, that’s a different matter.

"I have to be honest and say that, if we had been accepted by the Conference League, I would have asked one or two players in the Allerdale area if they fancied joining us.

"My worry now is of being able to motivate our players for another season in the Cumberland League.

"They were looking to test themselves at a higher level and my concern is that one or two of them might decide to all it a day."

Last week, the National Conference League announced they were in talks with five of their clubs who have experienced difficulties with player numbers, or were having financial problems. In addition, Distington were among 10 clubs who had applied to join the league next season.

Meanwhile, Distington forward Brian Ritchie will be flying out to Fiji with the BARLA Lions next Friday for their tour.

The party will be one short, however, as Millom prop Ethan Kelly has had to pull-out because of an injury he aggravated playing against Cumbria in a warm-up game at Distington a fortnight ago.

Cumbria, meanwhile, open their Tri-Series Championship this weekend with a trip to York Acorn to play Yorkshire. The Under-19s will also play the Tykes at the same venue.

A week later, it’s Cumbria’s turn to host the second game when they will tackle Lancashire at Millom.