May 30, 2021
By Will Johnston
The 21-game Taranaki representative has claimed 112 individual points after nine weeks of the CMK premier club rugby competition.
Tukapa first-five eight Jayson Potroz is second with 91 points, but did not manage to claim any in Stratford over the weekend after one conversion attempt.
Stratford/Eltham’s Rocky Olson is third with 77.
Averaging 12 points per match, Waite only managed a penalty kick in his side’s 32-12 win against Southern at Vogeltown Park on Saturday.
While he had three conversion attempts, they were all from the sideline with a gusty crosswind to contend with.
In a scrappy game, largely thanks to the ground conditions, Old Boys ran in five tries including two penalty tries. Southern scored two first half tries and looked to be in the game early in the first half.
Old Boys move into first equal on the table with Inglewood.
Stratford/Eltham remains in the top four after beating defending champions Tukapa 22-5 at Victoria Park.
Played in front of the club’s Old Timers, Stratford/Eltham scored three tries to one.
The game was not aided by the condition of Victoria Park’s extremely muddy and waterlogged field.
Heavy rain before and during the match coupled with a curtain raiser on the same field, made it difficult for players to hold onto the ball and kick.
Tukapa slip back to third place.
A Rick McKenna drop-goal ensured Coastal bounced back from last week’s loss to Inglewood.
When time was up the first-five eight slotted the kick from right out in front to claim a 22-19 win over Clifton in Okato.
The two teams couldn’t be separated after they scored three tries a-piece, including a penalty try to Clifton.
Returning Taranaki winger Kini Naholo bagged a runaway for the visitors.
And Inglewood continues its winning ways with a 32-5 win against Spotswood United.
Last year’s finalists scored five tries to one.
After nine weeks, the points are; Inglewood 21, New Plymouth Old Boys 21, Tukapa 19, Stratford/Eltham 18, Coastal 16, Clifton 9, Southern 5, Spotswood United 2.
