Against the odds, but still a chance

How special will it be if Giants upset the applecart and beat Hutt City United in the grand final of the Hutt Valley premier division men's softball competition in Taita on Sunday?
Special enough to almost defy description.
I mean here we have a team from the country taking on one of the perennial finalists in one of the country's strongest inter-club leagues.
It's David versus Goliath, the stuff of which fairytales are made.
So how come a Giants side which in two stints in premier division play encompassing some nine seasons in all has never before finished higher than fifth suddenly finds itself with a chance of being top dog.
Raise that question with insiders in the Giants camp and the word attitude is mentioned over and over again.
They say it's not the first time Giants have had the natural skills to make a huge impression on the competition table only to fall short of their potential because they have failed to train as well as they wanted to play.
This season has been different.
On basically every Tuesday and Thursday through from early September the squad has either trained or played practice games twice a week with attendances regularly being close to 100 per cent.
And, what's more, many of the players have done their own training on other days of the week as well.
To say the end result of all this hard work has been worthwhile would be a gross under-statement.
No longer are Giants likely to crumble in matches where opposition is exerting sustained pressure on them, both physically and mentally.
In fact, as their results show they have often won games by finishing stronger than their rivals.
They are too the perfect example of the old adage that success breeds success.
Whereas in the past they probably lacked the self belief to be as competitive as they should be now they have the attitude (that word again) that every team is beatable.
Sunday's final illustrates that fact.
Essentially there is no way that Giants should prevail against an HCU side which is spearheaded by two integral members of the current Black Sox squad, pitcher Jeremy Manley and power batter Rhys Caseley.
Suggest that to people like Giants head coach Tony Nixon and his assistant Russell Thompson though and you can't help but be swayed by the confidence they have in their side to do the Wairarapa proud?.not that they haven't already done that
They are revelling in their team's underdog status and know that if Giants can happen to get an early break on the scoreboard the pressures of being a dominating favourite could actually work against HCU.
For teams with that burden upon them can be very susceptible when they are in catch up mode, can't they?
That a Giants success would represent one of the more memorable moments in Wairarapa sport is a given.
Making the final is a magnificent achievement,??..winning it would be sensational with a capital S.
GO GIANTS GO!