Giants got their Inter-City series premier men's softball campaign back on track when they outgunned Wainuiomata 5-0 at South Park, Masterton, on Saturday.
Having had three successive losses Giants had placed this game in the "must win" category and they answered that call with an impressive all-round performance.
"It was exactly what
we wanted," pitcher Richard Clarke said. "We applied good pressure with the bat and in the field, we were always in control."
The fact Wainuiomata could not post a run in their seven turns at bat spoke volumes for the consistency of Clarke in the pitching role and he was complemented by an equally consistent fielding effort, spearheaded by short stop Ryan Shannahan and third base Will Ferhrman.
Ryan Shannahan also shone with the bat for Giants, registering a couple of safe hits, and his brother Nathan Shannahan was effective too in that sphere.
There was a controversial ending to the Inter-City premier two women's match between Giants and Naenae at Fraser Park with the umpires calling the match off with Naenae leading 17-15 but Giants still having one turn at bat up their sleeves.
Apparently the umpires made their decision because of safety issues caused by wet weather but strangely that did not stop a premier one women's match from going ahead as planned basically straight afterwards.
If the result is allowed to stand it will be Giants' first loss of the season in the premier two division.
In Hutt Valley competition matches played over the weekend the Giants under-13s beat Cardinals 18-2, the under-15s beat Totara Park 17-2 and the under-18s defeated Hutt City 13-2.
