Player-coach Corie Karaitiana is confident Giants can bounce back after suffering a shock loss last Saturday. PHOTO/FILE
SOFTBALL
CHRIS COGDALE
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Giants are keen to get their Intercity premier reserves campaign back on track today against Tawa after suffering a shock loss last Saturday.
An understrength Giants went down 10-11 in a double tiebreaker to Island Bay, a team they had convincingly beaten in the first round.
First choice pitcher Justin “Chunky” Karaitiana didn’t start in that loss, while Giants were also missing former Poneke-Kilbirnie player Chris Cox.
A below par fielding effort contributed to a poor day for Giants, who had finished the first round at the top of the table.
The points were scrapped after the first round with teams promoted and relegated between the divisions, meaning Giants have started the second round in a disappointing way.
Player-coach Corie Karaitiana said the loss to Island Bay was hard to take but was confident Giants could bounce back.
“The ball’s in our court, the goal is still making the top four. I believe we’re the best team in the comp, we just have to put it together on the diamond.”
Corie Karaitiana said they have to stop the complacency.
“We weren’t mentally on the same page against Island Bay, and we’ll be better off for it this week. The enthusiasm and hunger were there at training this week.”
The match against Tawa will be a rare appearance for the Giants’ top team at their South Park home ground, having played most of their first-round games away, and Corie Karaitiana expected a tough battle.
“Tawa were promoted from the bottom eight and were undefeated. I watched them last week and they rolled a very good Porirua side. They’re very dangerous.”
The first pitch will be thrown at South Park at 3.30pm today.
The early game at 1pm at South Park will have Giants play Totara Park Blue in an Intercity premier three clash.
It will be step into the unknown for Giants, with their first-round game in October rained off.
Giants started the second round last week with a convincing win over Dodgers and Totara Park Blue beat Totara Park Gold 21-14.
Giants’ president and team member Chris Feary was confident of picking up another win.
“We haven’t played them yet, and we don’t really know what they’re like, so it should be an interesting game.”
“They beat their other team last week and we had already beaten that team, so we should be too strong.”
The Giants’ women’s side have the bye in the Hutt Valley Major B championship.
