"Everyone fronted up. The bowling was better and we were batting to good totals so today we had a couple of standout performances with the bat and ball that got us through, really."
The former Black Caps seamer praised Nelson for their never-say-die attitude throughout the weekend after Dane Cleaver scored 111 from 68 balls, including six boundaries and five sixes.
"They deserved to be in the final and just about took us right to the end," he said, adding Nelson had had that steely resolve in previous campaigns.
Mason said Cleaver was always in the Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags squad for the Georgie Pie Super Smash starting this week but his knock yesterday only reaffirmed selectors' faith in him.
"He's probably one of the outstanding players in warm-up games for CD and for us he's been sensational and he's really matured over the last year or two."
Bowler Tim Richards stuck to his strengths and reaped the rewards with a six-wicket haul.
Mason said Manawatu's programme, people and culture provided a solid foundation for nurturing talent through a good crop of coaches.
"I love watching our Manawatu boys play and I loved playing with them when I was playing and they fight for each other with a never-give-up attitude that was shown in the Hawke Cup for the last couple of years.
"We were sad to lose it [Hawke Cup] last year but we sure will be at the end of it this season to grab it for another challenge."
Schaw was chuffed with the Bay's four-wicket win against Taranaki yesterday, especially the young guns.
"We put down a few catches but caught a couple, too," he said, adding seamers Ben Stoyanoff and Kurt Richards kept things tight from the start.
Against Nelson, they were on target for a decent total at 180-6 but the lower order crumbled.
"We were never good enough to defend the total but we did well to get to where we did."
Schaw will name a Hawke Cup team in a fortnight before playing Poverty Bay for the Kirk Cup here on November 14.
