Craig Philpott
A frustrated Hawke's Bay Magpies head coach Craig Philpott gave the 2014 season an 80 per cent mark.
"We wanted to be the best and we came up short. We're 20 per cent off where we should be," Philpott said as he reflected on a season which ended with Friday night's 32-24 loss to the Manawatu Turbos in the ITM Cup Championship final in Palmerston North.
This was the second consecutive Championship final the Magpies have lost. Last year they were pipped 26-25 by Tasman in Nelson.
"We've had a couple of close ones ... in fact we've had close games all year apart from our loss to Tasman in round one [35-15] and that 29-3 loss to Manawatu in our previous visit to Palmy," Philpott recalled.
The three-season Magpies boss, who along with assistant Danny Lee will be at the helm again next year, agreed the unavailability of the Highlanders pair of outside back Richard Buckman and No 8 Gareth Evans and Chiefs utility back Andrew Horrell through injuries was a key factor in Friday night's loss.
"Our captain Brendon O'Connor, who was a pretty influential player, was down to one leg for the last two weeks. But we should have been good enough and it's frustrating," Philpott said.
It's fair to argue a team who win one of their six away games don't deserve promotion to the Premiership. However, Philpott pointed out only a couple of teams across both divisions have a better away percentage during the past two seasons than the Magpies 33 per cent.
"We matched Manawatu's effort in beating three of the four Premiership teams we played this season. One of the three we beat was Taranaki, the team which won it," Philpott said.
In addition to locking up the Ranfurly Shield for the summer the Magpies were unbeaten in all six of their home games this season.
"If I had told you two years ago we would make both finals in the next two seasons and win the Ranfurly Shield twice you wouldn't have believed me. In that respect we have to be reasonably happy," Philpott said referring to his first season at the helm which saw the Magpies relegated from the Premiership.
With two All Blacks, three Maori All Blacks and 16 players signed to Super Rugby franchises, this has been the Magpies' most successful season since Super Rugby began in 1996. Lock Mark Abbott, who has been re-signed by the Hurricanes, and winger Ryan Tongia were the latest Magpies to secure Super deals.
Tongia, who won the Magpies' rookie of the year award for the season, was the top tryscorer across both divisions with 10. He has a two-year deal with the Highlanders - a wider training group deal for the first year and a full contract for the second.
Prop Brendon Edmonds won the forward of the year award. This recognises his Maori All Black selection, securing of a two-year deal with the Highlanders, ability to dominate on both sides of the scrum and regular appearance in the Magpies' weekly Best and Fairest awards.
Blues pivot Ihaia West, who came up with several matchwinning plays during the season, won the back-of-the-year award and Buckman collected the player-of-the-year award. Buckman continued his outstanding Super season form with the Magpies with some superb defensive work, safe hands under the high ball, devastating counter attacks and numerous assists.
Phillpott and Lee will spend the next two weeks reviewing all aspects of the season in an attempt to improve on the 80 per cent mark next year. While it's not a priority they will have to come up with a formula to produce a win in Palmy as they have yet to beat the Turbos in three first class fixtures played there under their watch.