WE have come to the end of yet another Victorian Women’s Premier Cricket season, full of highs and lows. Now that the season has finished, let us take a look back at how the eight clubs went across the whole season, and how things went since their mid-season report cards.

Today we look at Ringwood, who finished third in 2021/22.

Season 2021/22 turned out to be a historic one for the Rams. Although they lost four of their first five matches after the Christmas break, they then won their next two to set up a do or die final round match against Carlton.

Win that match, and they made finals for the first time at Premier Firsts level. Lose and their season was done.

Win they certainly did. They chased down the very competitive total of 189 that Carlton had set for them with over 10 overs to spare. Then came the semi-final, and what was about to transpire was one of the cruellest ways to end a season.

They were due to face Carlton again in the semi-final, but after a lot of rain in the week leading up to the match, Carlton’s ground was still too wet to play on and the match was washed out.

There was no reserve day for the semi-finals, so as the higher ranked team after the semi-finals Carlton got to progress and Ringwood’s season had to end.

Top performers

From a batting perspective, senior leaders Bhavisha Devchand and Una Raymond-Hoey led the way for the Rams this season.

Devchand made 557 runs this season at an average of 46.42 and a strike rate of 90.7. She made 50 three times across the season and went on to make a century twice. Her highest score of the season was 116 against Melbourne in January.

Irish star Raymond-Hoey had another great season. She made 493 runs at an average off 44.82. She made five 50s across the season, with her highest score of 76 not out coming against Melbourne coming on the opening weekend.

Rounding out the top five highest run scorers for the Rams this season is Olivia Henry, Kristy Arulrajah and Erin Carroll.

Now looking at the bowlers, and it is young star Hailey Ferris who comes out on top. After coming across from the Mustangs a couple of seasons ago now, she really had a break out season this year. She took 22 wickets across the season, with an economy rate of 3.28. Her best bowling figures of the season was the 6/30 she took against Essendon Maribyrnong Park.

Second on the bowlers list is the skipper Devchand. This season she continued to prove how much of a talented allrounder she is, taking 17 wickets across the season at an economy rate of 3.34. Her best figures of the season were 4/31.

Rounding out the top five most wicket takers for the Rams this season is Carroll, Tess Flintoff and Olivia Thomas.

Where to from here?

Unlike the other sides in the competition the way Ringwood’s season ended really was not in their own hands.

But, as much as the way their season ended will be frustrating for all involved, this season is still a huge positives for the Rams. They made finals for the first time, and with the young talent they have at their disposals, the future is definitely on an upward trajectory for those at Ramland.