Premier Cricket 2023-24: Richmond’s ‘brutal’ lesson in semi-final loss to Ringwood

‘It can all get taken away pretty quickly,’ Tigers captain Sam Mills lamented following his side’s Premier Cricket season-ending loss to Ringwood.

Richmond looked in control of its semi-final until after lunch on Sunday. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Its season turned within an hour in what Richmond captain Sam Mills describes as “brutal”.

The Tigers were sent packing from the Premier Cricket flag race on the weekend at the hands of Ringwood, falling by 48 runs in the two-day bout.

Seemingly in control on the Saturday and the Sunday before lunch, Mills lamented his side’s slide in the hour after the break, slipping from 3-80 to 7-90 as Ringwood’s Matt Fotia and Lachie Bangs turned the tide with the ball.

It was all over at 113 runs.

“I think it just shows how brutal the game can be,” Mills said.

“I think we played the better cricket for a day and a session – at lunch on day two, we were 3-80, looking pretty comfortable.

“In the space of an hour, it can all get taken away pretty quickly.

“That’s the main takeaway – how hard finals are to win and you can lose them in the space of an hour, especially if you’re playing good teams.”

The result marks a second consecutive semi-final exit – also eliminated by Ringwood last season.

Finishing seventh this time around, the Tigers turfed Fitzroy Doncaster from the race in an elimination final.

“I think given what we sort of expected at the start of the year, I think we slightly exceeded expectations but I wouldn’t say it’s an improvement per se … we played some good cricket, we were able to make finals and give ourselves a chance,” Mills said.

“We had a really good win in the elimination final and that’s where it’s different to last year, finishing top four and out in straight sets.

“This year we were the underdogs going into finals … but overall, there were still positives to take out of the season.”

One of those positives is young spinner Reiley Mark, who finished the season on 30 wickets at an average of 18.17.

Reiley Mark fired with 30 wickets this season. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“He turns 21 in a few weeks … the way he performed in the last three weeks of the season was incredible, especially going into finals as the No. 1 spinner and having the pressure of taking a lot of our wickets,” Mills said.

“He’s shown he’s an incredibly exciting young talent and he’s one to watch for the next level.

“Taking 30 wickets as a 20-year-old spinner in Premier cricket is a pretty good effort, and he’s only improving from here on.”

Brendan Rose finished with 31 wickets at 16.19, while Jonathan D’Rozario put up 452 runs at an average of 34.77, including four half-centuries.

Brendan Rose took 31 scalps for the season. Picture: Josh Chadwick

“He’s only 22, but he definitely feels a fair bit older than that as he’s been around Richmond for quite a while now, and he’s growing in experience and leadership,” Mills said of D’Rozario.

“He’s had a really impressive campaign with the bat and has also bowled some handy leg-spin.”

Jonathan D’Rozario. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The season also marked Mills’ maiden campaign as captain, confident his charges can build on its nine wins and finals berth.

Mills claimed 21 wickets at 17.19, while also tipping in 197 runs.

“We had some really good moments, and you’re always disappointed when you get knocked out of finals and you lose, and I think you reflect on that a bit more harshly when you’re captain,” he said.

“Across the whole season you look at the team’s performance and your own performance in a harsher perspective than what you normally would.

“I think that’s the difficult part about being captain, but overall, it’s been a positive experience with a lot to learn for next year.

“The more we play together, the more we’ll understand each other and it can be easier to captain and perform going forward.”