National bid for Giants pair

Two Giants players, pitcher Ritchie Clarke and outfielder Blair Thompson, have been named in the Hutt Valley men's softball squad to contest the national inter-provincial championships at North Harbour between February 17-20.
Clarke and Thompson have already worn the Hutt Valley colours at the nationals; Clarke being part of the Hutt Valley side which finished third last year and Thompson making his debut two seasons ago.
Clarke has also played at the New Zealand championships as an "import" for Auckland, Canterbury and Southern Pride.
He is one of three highly regarded pitchers in this year's Hutt Valley combination, the others being Black Sox duo Jeremy Manley and Shaun Jamieson.
Thompson not only excels in the outfield, but has also shown fine form in the batting department, good enough to make him a contender for a top-order role at the North Harbour event.
Meanwhile, Clarke could be missing from the Giants line-up to take on Cardinals in an Inter City series top six play-off match at Fraser Park on Saturday.
He has been invited to play for Auckland-based club Eden Roskill at the Vic Guth tourney in Auckland and will do so providing he is given the all clear.
If Clarke does travel north, the pitching duties for Giants against Cardinals will be taken by Justin Karaitiana,.