ASKAM will be back to local derby games with relegated Millom after their National Conference Division Two promotion hopes ended in heartache before a huge crowd at Fallowfield Park.

In a cliff-hanging 80 minutes, Adam Jackson edged the Villagers into a 23-22 lead over Blackbrook with a fine drop goal.

However, disaster struck five minutes from time when the home side were forced to drop out from under their own sticks.

Jackson put boot to ball, only for over-eagerness from at least three players saw them caught offside and a penalty awarded.

Up stepped winger Aaron Hewitt to slot the ball between the posts for a 24-23 advantage, which Blackbrook held on to until the final whistle.

To add to their woes, Askam prop Jamie Butler left the field with a serious leg injury at a crucial part of the game. He went to Furness General Hospital, where a break was diagnosed around the shin area.

It was nip-and-tuck throughout, with the home side sailing into a 14-0 lead on the 20-minute mark and the St Helens side rarely in the picture.

However, Blackbrook upped the tempo, well led by full-back Jordan Darwin and scrum half Jordan Welsby and, as the game progressed, they got the upper-hand and were deserved winners.

Askam coach Mike Wilson said: “I am really gutted for the lads. They worked so hard and I thought at 14-0 up we had maybe done enough, but we were holding on at the end.

“It was a tough call for the late penalty. How many times are they given? It must happens many times throughout a season and how many are given?

“It was cruel when you are leading by a point with two or three minutes to go and a decision like that is hard to take. If the lads were five or six yards in front of the kicker, okay, but by a narrow margin it’s hard to take in. But if you stick to the letter of the rules, then it is a penalty.

“To lose Jamie Butler was a big blow. You need a man of his experience in games like this, but he is determined to come back next season. Though we’re disappointed, we all had a good night in the club to celebrate a good season for both the first and A-teams, and hopefully we will come back stronger next season.”

Askam looked good at times, but came out second-best against a side who were far more constructive in creating more opportunities.

Blackbrook threatened in the opening minutes, when winger Jake Shaw headed for the line, but Russ Bolton was on hand with a timely tackle.

Askam took the lead on seven minutes when a towering high ball from Joe Satterthwaite saw Tom Butler touch down after Jack Cairns palmed the ball into his path. Sam Dowsett landed a touchline conversion.

Bolton then took a high ball near his own line and Dowsett relieved the pressure with a 40/20.

Askam pushed back and Hopkins took play to the line before he was tackled, but slick play from Dowsett and Tom Wilkinson paved the way for Jamie Butler to touchdown. Dowsett added the extra two for 12-0.

When Hopkins was held down in the tackle, Dowsett made it 14-0 with his kick at goal from 45 yards out on 20 minutes.

The visitors came more into the frame after Askam were penalised for stealing in the tackle.

Welsby sent Scott Davidson to the posts before a scrambling defence halted his progress. Welsby then almost had Greg Hale putting points on the board, but he was held up and, from the restart, hooker Danny Fairhurst’s pass went into touch.

Blackbrook mounted more pressure, keeping the ball alive, but the home defence stood firm as Welsby’s kick for his winger went out of play.

Three minutes from half-time, a chip ahead from visiting stand-off Ryan Houghton enabled Greg Hale to touchdown. Hewitt added the goal to make it 14-6.

Askam broke through Ben Lewney, courtesy of a quick pass from Wilkinson. The centre went 45 yards upfield, but with winger Jack Cairns on his shoulder and a clear run to the line, Lewney went himself and was hauled down.

On the stroke of half-time, Jackson stabbed a ball over the visitors’ line and Dowsett grounded, but was ruled to be in front of the kicker.

Three minutes into the second half, a high tackle proved costly for the home side as Hewitt hit the target with his kick.

This lifted the St Helens side, and Welsby was held by Bolton before Mark Webster was pushed back from the line.

On 47 minutes, Rory Marshall eased matters with his first try of the season, going in by the posts for Dowsett to convert and create a 12-point cushion at 20-8.

Marshall then pulled off a fine tackle on dangerous half-back Welsby and a nervous moment followed when Cross broke from his own line, taking play over halfway with defenders in pursuit. With tacklers on his shoulder, he parted to the elusive Darwin, but he failed to take the pass.

The visitors narrowed the deficit when Welsby’s neat chip over the cover saw Scott Davidson’s fingertips make contact for the four-pointer – turned into six with Hewitt’s conversion.

Wilkinson relieved more pressure when a smart attack involving several players saw the final inside pass from Cross go to ground and the Askam man swooped.

With 65 minutes on the clock it was game on as Davidson burst through to score under the posts. Hewitt tagged on the goal for 20-20.

Three minutes later, the lead was back in the hands of the Villagers as Dowsett kicked a penalty after interference in the tackle.

There was all to play for and a try-saving tackle from Sayle on winger Jack Shaw followed a great run from Welsby. But Sayle hung on too long and was sin-binned, with Hewitt bringing the scores level once more at 22-22.

More drama followed as the clocked ticked down.

From the restart, Hopkins jumped highest to gather and set up a raid which resulted in Jackson dropping a goal. Was it enough to take Askam into Division One?

The answer was no, as from a drop-out from under their own posts, defenders were caught in front of the kicker and Hewitt’s boot sent a delighted St Helens side up.

Barrow Island went down 48-4 against Distington at the Recreation Ground, in the Cumbria League Play-off final.

The Island were in contention at the break, trailing 12-4, but the undefeated West Cumbrians ran out comfortable winners. Tez Nueto crossed for Island try.

Millom’s season ended in a 35-30 home defeat at the hands of Featherstone Lions, after leading 24-6 at half-time. The Lions ran in 29 second-half points, with six in reply.

Tries for the Woollybacks came from Ross Brookes (2), Ian Armstrong (2) and Paul Carter, with five goals from Lee Postlethwaite.