"I don't know about that. I'll just keep ticking off the little things and see what happens," Abbott said shortly after watching captain Mike Coman receive the Kel Tremain Memorial Cup.
"I'm pretty happy to receive the player-of-the-match award ... it means I'm doing the right things. And all the boys are pleased with the victory and our start to the season ... it's been a long-time coming after a long build-up," Abbott explained.
And the tackle on Stone?
"It's always good when those ones come off," Abbott said with a huge grin.
Later in the evening Abbott collected another Kel Tremain Memorial Cup for the Sportsman of the Year award at the Napier Old Boys Marist club's prizegiving after earlier collecting the club's premier side's Best Forward award.
Close behind Abbott in the battle for the player-of-the-match award were loosehead prop Brendon Edmonds and No8 Mark Atkins. After conceding two penalties in the first 12 minutes, the Magpies dominated possession and territory for the remainder of the half.
Superb defensive pressure from the Magpies forced the Turbos to produce soft turnovers. In a vast improvement from pre-season outings the Magpies defensive work was sharp.
They had only missed three tackles in the first half and finished the match with 12 misses, seven less than the Turbos. The dominant Magpies pack made it easy for the halfback-first five-eighth combination of former All Black Alby Mathewson and 2012 New Zealand under-20s rep Ihaia West to dictate.
West scored an outstanding individual try and succeeded with five of his seven attempts at goal. He would have been disappointed with his two kick offs which went out on the full.
In a rare 80-minute effort new Magpies winger Telusa Veainu, who was used sparingly as a sub for the Crusaders this year, was always a threat on attack and sound on defence. He was unlucky to have his second try disallowed.
While this victory was a tremendous start and huge confidence booster for the Magpies it must also be put into perspective. The Turbos were poor in their quest to become the first Manawatu team to win a first class match at McLean Park in 58 years.
Of the visitors only New Zealand under-20s centre Jason Emery enjoyed patches of dominance. First five-eighth Jade Te Rure did well to land three of his four attempts at goal.
A disappointing aspect was the amount of time, almost 15 minutes, wasted while scrums were being re-set. This was a problem in other ITM Cup first round fixtures and hopefully it doesn't take too much longer for officials and players to adjust to the new rules and calls.
Magpies head coach Craig Philpott pointed out his troops were their own worst enemies in the first quarter.
"The boys were over hyped so at halftime we told them to be patient and accurate. The right attitude was there ... we just had to take care of the little things."
Philpott said Napier MP Chris Tremain did the jersey presentation and left a photo of his late father, All Black and Magpies legend Kel Tremain, in the changing room.
"The boys had a little bit to play for."Apart from susbstitute flanker Karl Lowe, who collected a rib injury, Philpott has no other injury concerns in the build-up so Sunday's match against Bay of Plenty in Tauranga.
"Knowing Lowey he will play with a jab if he has to," Philpott added.
