Nixon: We always knew we could win

Giants coach Tony Nixon admits to a feeling his team was about to produce something special before their upset 2-0 win over Hutt City United in the grand final of the Hutt Valley premier division men's softball competition at Fraser Park, Taita on Sunday.
Nixon said the "buzz" from the players in the dressing room prior to the game was very similar to that prior to their semi-final game against strongly favoured Cardinals, which they had won 7-1.
"Honestly you could feel the excitement???everybody was keyed up and ready to go," he said " They couldn't wait to get out there and. do the business."
Nixon had also been impressed at the keenness demonstrated at a training session held in Masterton on Saturday. It had gone for two hours and the players were looking for more at the end of it. "I think we could have gone on for another hour and noone would have complained.," he said.
While the grand final itself was close enough for the result to be in the balance right up until the game's end Nixon said he was always confident that Giants were in the frame of mind to beat an HCU side which was packed with national and Hutt Valley representatives.
"We out-enthused them all the say through," he said.
"Obviously there was never much in it on the scoreboard but we were certainly hungrier for the win than they were, and that's what counted in the end."
Pitcher Justin "Chunky" Karaitiana was the special hero of the Giants line-up with his effort of giving up only the one clear safe hit in seven innings and the decision to have him start in the pitching role was made on match morning.
Nixon said the choice there was between Karaitiana and Richard Clarke, who had been the first choice pitcher through most of the season, and it was made after he personally had sat down with the two of them and had a "good chat" about the likely game scenarios.
"It was a tough choice to make but Chunky (Karaitiana) had pitched well against them the last time we had played and that was probably the deciding factor," Nixon said.
"And it was comforting to have Richard on standby???.he's had a marvellous season for us and we knew he was up to doing the job if he was required."
Nixon was also high in his praise of the coolness shown by Giants, both in the batting box and in the field.
"In pressure games like this you have to be mentally very strong and we coped extra well in that regard,' he said. "Sure, there was an element of nervousness but we never let it get to us."
Nixon, who is in his first season as Giants coach and has already decided he will be available again for the same role in 2007, concedes the excitement of Sunday's win could be a problem for his players when they kick off their national inter-club championship campaign in Hastings tomorrow.
He himself sees no reason why Giants shouldn't claim a place in the top eight-which would mean qualifying either first or second in their pool- but agrees they can't afford to produce any below par efforts if that is to happen.
"Consistency is everything in tournaments like this and one bad day will basically see you back amongst the also rans," he said.
Giants are drawn in the same pool as Northcote, Auckland Marist, Hutt Valley Marist, Waiakere Bears and Johnsonville and while Nixon certainly respects the strength of teams like Northcote and Auckland Marist he is confident that a Giants team playing to their potential is quite capable of upsetting them.
"The way I think is that there is no team we can't beat."
"It's just a matter of producing our best form each time we go out there," he said. "The top eight is a tough ask but we can do it, I'm sure of that."