Premier Cricket 2020-21: Tom Rogers registers third ton in matchwinning partnership

A mammoth partnership steered Ringwood to its fifth victory of the season on Saturday – with Tom Rogers registering yet another ton.

Ringwood’s Tom Rogers has more than 600 runs to his name this season. Picture: Stuart Milligan

A mammoth partnership steered Ringwood to its fifth victory of the season on Saturday – with Tom Rogers again the key feature.

Rogers put on 129 from 120 deliveries, teaming up with great mate and fellow young gun Josh Hartill who registered 84 from 129 as the Rams batted first on the way to 5-286, downing the Bombers by 29 runs (9-257).

It’s Rogers’ third ton of the season to go with 181 in Round 1 and 114 in Round 7, notching up 601 runs so far. Hartill’s 84 is his season-best, surpassing his knock of 64 set in Round 7.

Ringwood’s Patrick Ashton and Josh Hartill celebrate a wicket earlier this season. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Ringwood coach Sean Flynn said he was thrilled with the partnership and how his side stood up to the potent Essendon bowling attack.

“He (Rogers) was outstanding again,” Flynn said.

“They (Rogers and Hartill) are really good friends, those two, so to put 200 on, they certainly enjoyed themselves batting together.

“Essendon sent us in to bat, but we were keen to bat first anyway.

“It was certainly a very testing early spell from (Essendon bowlers) Tom O’Donnell and Matthew Doric but the boys worked hard and then the conditions eased a bit and they played well.”

Flynn praised his side’s even contribution with the ball, led by reigning joint Ryder medallist David King with 2-35 off seven overs and skipper Patrick Ashton with 2-43 off four.

But it was gun spinner Brendan Walsh who claimed the biggest scalp, dismissing reigning joint Ryder medallist James Seymour for 55 in the 23rd over, as the Bombers fell to 3-99 in their chase.

“Brendan did an important job for us with the ball and it was pleasing for him to get the most important wicket yesterday,” Flynn said.

The Rams sit 11th on the ladder with a 5-6-3 record, and face Casey-South Melbourne (away), Frankston Peninsula (away) and Footscray (home) in the final three weeks of the home-and-away season.

Flynn said the focus had shifted away from his side’s ladder position and onto improvement in the final three rounds.

“We’re not even looking at the ladder to be fair – we just want to keep having good days of cricket which means big partnerships and bowling and fielding well,” he said.

“With where we are (on the ladder), we just take out that worry and play good cricket as often as we can.

“We’re still looking to continue to get better – that never stops and it’s all through the grades.”