Pirate coach bows out after club's win | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 21 Havelock North 14

It's the next best thing to watching my son come into the world.Phil Rumpler, Pirate coach "One, two, five," yelled the Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports premier rugby side as the cameras snapped them with the Maddison Trophy at Napier's Park Island on Saturday afternoon.

No, they're not bad mathematicians. They were just indicating what it meant to win Hawke's Bay's most prestigious club rugby trophy in the club's 125th Jubilee year.

"It's the next best thing to watching my son come into the world," said Pirate coach Phil Rumpler minutes after his side had beaten defending champions Progressive Meats Havelock North 21-14 in front of 2100 spectators.

"I always wanted to win a Maddison with Pirates. This is the club I've played for the most and it's a good way to bow out ... completing an unbeaten Maddison round," said Rumpler.

"I want to take a year off and upskill myself. Four years is long enough with one team ... players will get stale if they listen to your voice any longer than that.

"In saying that, I was more of a manager with this group. They coach themselves to a certain extent ... I just had to wield the axe occasionally and keep them on their toes," said Rumpler.

For five of his players, first five-eighth Aayden Clarke, who again directed play well with his tactical kicking, replacement lock Matt Maxwell, replacement back Wallace Sullivan and frontrowers Danny Logan and Johnny Morrison, it was their third taste of Maddison Trophy glory as they were in the Piriate sides which won in 2004 and '05.

There was plenty of hype about All Black Israel Dagg's appearance in the final after his lengthy injury spell and he didn't let the fans down in his 29 minutes of action off the bench at fullback in the second half.

His most valuable contribution was setting up winger Bryn Uriarau for a try in the 64th minute which put the hosts ahead 21-7. He also saved a potential Havelock try late in the game with clever defensive work.

"My body is sweet and the leg is a bit tight but that's to be expected," said Dagg referring to the quad injury which sidelined him during the Super season.

"It was good to be out there and playing for the family club I last played for in 2008," said Dagg after giving his grandfather and club life member Pat Dagg a celebratory hug.

"I'll see how the body responds at Magpies training next week. Hopefully, all going to plan, I'll get a run against Bay of Plenty and then an outing with the All Blacks the following week in South Africa," he added.

While it would have been easy for Rumpler to place his entire team on his MVP list lock Roger McPherson, flanker Karl Bloxham and Uriarau made it.

Havelock North deserve praise for the manner in which they fought back after trailing 16-7 at halftime and 21-7. Prop Brendon Edmonds had a huge workrate in a pack where lock Rhys Evans and substitute prop Logovi'i Mulipola were also inspirational.

Second five-eighth Levi Armstrong deserved his two tries including one from a late intercept which he celebrated with a spectacular dive. Fullback Johnny Robin impressed with his work on the counter attack.

"We'll all be back. That's not the way we wanted to finish," said Havelock manager Conrad Waitoa.

He praised the manner in which the Pirate forwards slowed the ball down at breakdown time.

"Everyone knows that's the way to beat us and Pirates did it well.

"We have one complaint about the day and that's the fact the wind changed," he quipped.

Nature as well a certain request from All Black coach Graham Henry worked in the hosts' favour.

Hastings Rugby and Sports Reserves became the first team in the club's 16-year history to complete an unbeaten season when they beat Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports 18-10 in their final.

"Counting three pre-season wins it was a 19-game unbeaten run," said coach and former Magpies lock Aaron Bartlett afterwards.

"It was the result of honesty and hard work and the players buying into the style of play we wanted to adopt. I haven't seen this sort of attitude since the 1987 Celtic side," added Bartlett.

Onga-Tiko colts completed a memorable season with a convincing 24-3 win against Napier Old Boys Marist in the other final played at Park Island.

This side had one loss, to Havelock North, earlier in the season. Hooker Rhys Marshall was outstanding in a dominant and cohesive pack.

Lock Lance Baker impressed with his mobility and goalkicking which saw him land four penalties and a conversion. Prop Wiremu Cottrell scrummaged well.

Fullback Karl Lepelaars and winger Mitch Nation were always dangerous on the counter-attack.