Wigton came away from Whitehaven with a Counties 1 Cumbria victory from the last kick of the match.
It didn’t look as though Wigton would need that last gasp penalty to win 23-20 as at half time, after playing into the wind, they led 17-3.
The condition of the pitch was surprisingly good despite the recent weather and it allowed the Greens to move the ball around the pitch trying to get outside a tightly packed Haven defence.
Wigton did manage to find space on the edges and exploited it with centre Joe Marrs going in at the corner to score the team’s 100th try of the season.
Haven hit back with a penalty from Luke Richardson but the home side’s ill-discipline was starting to test the referee’s patience and they had two players sent to the sin bin for tackle height and deliberate knock-ons when a penalty try could have been awarded.
With the home side down to 13 Wigton scored two tries through Jonny Dodd and Billy Stafford one of which was converted by Elliot Armstrong.
Any thoughts of an easier second-half playing with the wind did not materialise as in a complete reversal of the first half Wigton fell foul of the referee and were penalised heavily, resulting in no possession.
It also meant they had to defend for large parts of the half as the bigger Haven pack kept it close. They scored a try through Clarke Chambers in the corner from several drives close to the ruck but missed the conversion.
From the re-start Wigton went long with the kick and gained a penalty which Armstrong was successful with, and hand them a 12-point lead.
Whitehaven re-grouped and for the last 20 minutes dominated territory and possession forcing their way over for two tries by Phil Southam and Richardson, one of which was converted by Richardson. .
It left the score tied at 20-20 with just two minutes remaining.
Wigton again kicked long from the re-start and good defence had Whitehaven pinned in their own half.
A penalty was awarded at a ruck and Armstrong put the kick straight between the posts to secure the narrow victory.
Wigton now move up to third in the table but another tough test awaits on Saturday at Millom.
