Giants looking for another huge year

Giants are determined not to become "one season wonders" when matches in the 2006 Hutt Valley men's softball premier division competition get under way next month.
The Masterton-based side hit the high spots when they upset Hutt City United 2-0 in the grand final of the major league last season, a massive achievement when it is considered that in nine previous seasons of premier division play they had done no better than fifth.
And making the success even more notable was that in their four earlier clashes Hutt City United had taken the honours every time.
Publicity officer Russell Thompson said Giants were aware they now had a hard act to follow in 2006 but he expressed confidence that under the leadership of head coach Tony Nixon they would again give a strong account of themselves.
Nixon wasn't available for comment yesterday but Thompson said he was already espousing the message that Giants did not want to be known as "one season wonders."
"There won't be any resting on laurels, he (Nixon) will ensure that doesn't happen," Thompson said." Last season is past history now, it's back to square one for us."
Two of the four Canadians who played for Giants in 2005, Trevor Aldred and Jared Lambert won't be returning for the coming season.
But that doesn't mean the ending of the Canadian influence for Curtis Ames and Cory Kinnon will be back on deck again, and they are almost certain to be joined by a newcomer from that country in Travis Head.
Also returning from Canada will be locals Justin "Chunky" Karataiana and Richard Clarke, both of whom have been honing their pitching skills there during out winter months.
It was the coolness of Karaaitiana on the pitching mound which played such a big part in Giants' win over HCU in last season's competition decider. He conceded only two safe hits in the entire game against a powerful batting line-up spearheaded by one of the best in the business, Black Sox Rhys Casley.
Good news for Giants is that along with Karaitiana and Clarke virtually all of the locally-based players in their 2005 team will be available for selection this coming season as well.
These include promising youngsters Blair Thompson and Ryan Shannahan and older hands Mark Quinn, Terry Waitere and Gordon Wilmshurst.
The Giants squad have been practising for up to six weeks and plans are for them to stage a pre-season tourney at their South Park headquarters on October 7.