Premier Cricket 2018-19: Ringwood looks to overcome difficult fixture to start season

CAPITALISING on winning positions will be critical for Ringwood’s Premier Cricket campaign as it navigates a difficult opening half of the season.

Ian Holland was in superb touch against Greenvale. Picture: Mark Dadswell/AAP

CAPITALISING on winning positions will be critical for Ringwood’s Premier Cricket campaign as it navigates a difficult opening half of the season.

The Rams sit on a 1-2 record after the first three rounds of the season, suffering two close losses against defending premiers Dandenong and 2017-18 preliminary finalist Carlton.

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Ringwood went down to Dandy by 10 runs in Round 1 before Carlton reached its target of 6-216 with two balls to spare on Sunday.

Rams coach Gavin Kellar said his side needed to win crucial moments to return to finals in 2018-19.

David King drives one down the ground. Picture: Mark Dadswell/AAP

“The two losses we’ve had, we’ve been in the game right until the last over,” Kellar said.

“Hopefully we’ve got a fair bit of learning from those losses against two quality sides.

“Realistically we’ve probably just lapsed in a couple of overs in those games and that has been the difference between us sitting 3-0 and 1-2.”

Ringwood has a daunting run of two-day games before Christmas with assignments against last season’s finalists Monash Tigers, Footscray, Fitzroy Doncaster and Essendon.

“Reality is, I think there are not too many sides in Premier Cricket that aren’t strong,” Kellar said.

“For us, it’s more worrying about our cricket and playing our brand of cricket and that’s something we’ve really got to focus on.

“I think we’re really improving as a group … but you’ve got to perform whoever you’re up against.

“Whether they’re good sides or not is sort of a little bit irrelevant. We’ve just got to go out and play good cricket.

“We think we’re doing that but we’ve been outplayed in two of those games in key moments.”

Joe Loorham plays a cut shot. Picture: Mark Dadswell/AAP

First-year captain and star all-rounder Ian Holland showed why he was tipped as the pre-season Ryder Medal favourite when he plundered 140 in Round 2 against Greenvale Kangaroos.

Holland’s ninth ton came off just 130 deliveries and included 16 fours as the Rams totted up 4-304 in the 106-run win in the one-day fixture at Greenvale Reserve.

Kangaroos captain-coach Matthew Love fell five runs short of a ton in his first season back in Premier Cricket after a successful stint at VSDCA club Yarraville.

Brendan Walsh finished as the pick of the bowlers with 3-28 from 10 economical overs, while Patrick Ashton grabbed 2-44.