Premier Cricket 2024-25: ‘We’re not thinking too far ahead’, Ringwood coach Sean Flynn says

Their recent Premier Cricket form has included the scalp of the reigning champs, but the Rams coach says there’s a cautious optimism on the eve of the finals ...

Ian Holland has been a big inclusion for the Rams this season. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

A rousing victory over reigning premier Carlton adds another scalp to Ringwood’s growing collection this season – but coach Sean Flynn says his side treads with wary optimism on the eve of the finals.

The Rams’ five-wicket win over the premiership power on Saturday sealed a finals berth and followed a favourable recent form line with a win over finals-bound Dandenong and a draw with Richmond.

Ringwood, which has contested the past two preliminary finals, sits fifth on the ladder with one home-and-away round to play.

“Before the weekend, we needed to make sure we won to cement our finals spot, and we knew we had a tough finish with Carlton and Prahran,” Flynn said.

“We’re not thinking too far ahead – we’ve just got to keep playing good cricket and things will take care of themselves from that point on.

“I do accept that we’ve made the last two preliminary finals, and lost them in very tight battles, but hopefully we’ve learnt from those games.

“But we know there’s going to be big games like that all the way coming up for us – we’re still only fifth on the ladder.”

Teenage pair Justin Beaton and Dylan Walker starred with the ball in week one of the weekend’s victory, bagging 3-40 and 4-44 to limit the Blues to 205, before opening batting pair Ian Holland (79 runs) and David King (67) combined to shoot the Rams to 5-206.

“Our bowlers did a fantastic job to restrict them (Carlton) – we’re really excited for our teenagers to take those wickets, to a 159-run opening partnership between David and Ian, it just set the tone for us.

“It just ensured we were able to get a win on a day where it was difficult weather conditions.”

And there might be another top honour ahead for Ringwood captain David King, driving 627 runs and taking 27 wickets this season.

“He could be on the way to a second Ryder Medal,” Flynn declared.

“His last few years as a batter have been as good as any of the years … he’s certainly playing with a lot of fluency with his batting.”

A two-day bout with ninth-placed Prahran rounds out the home-and-away campaign – with the True Blues still in the finals hunt.

“They need to win, we need to win, it’s going to be a really tough battle,” Flynn said.

“You’ve got to play good cricket in March, but we’re certainly happy we’re playing good cricket in February.”