WITH the Victorian Men’s Premier Cricket competition wrapped after an entertaining 2021/22 campaign, it is time to reflect on the season that was. Each team had a different journey over the last few months, so we take a look at how each side fared over the past six months.

Like the last side we touched on in the Lions, the Ringwood Rams finished with a record of six wins and nine losses, which saw them two triumphs outside the top eight and a spot in the finals. While they were floating around the eighth-place mark for much of the season, it was inconsistency that ended up costing the Rams when it mattered most. It seemed as if though every time they managed to conjure an impressive win, it was backed up by a loss the following week, which meant their record could not keep up with that of the sides ahead of them. In the end, a pretty rough draw in the final three weeks of the season sealed their fate, as they finished in 12th spot on the ladder for the 2021/22 season.

The fluctuating form was evident from the opening month of play, as they won two of their first four games with a fifty percent winning rate. Taking down Richmond early was a promising sign, given the star power on that side, but they struggled to defeat the sides ahead of them in the standings. It was a pattern that continued throughout their campaign, as they bested the sides they were expected to, but could not produce enough upsets to put themselves in the conversation for contenders, as they finished without a spot in the postseason.

Best win

In Round 9 of the 2021/22 season, Ringwood came up against a Footscray side that was beginning to find its feet after an up-and-down start to the year. The Rams came in as underdogs, given their inconsistent form throughout the year, but managed to produce a terrific performance. Behind the efforts of star batsman Thomas Rogers (more on him in a bit), who produced a knock of 136, Ringwood was able to claim a commanding win, producing one of its highest scores of the season and convincingly defeat Footscray.

MVP

It is nearly impossible to go past the efforts of Rogers, who was incredible whenever he suited up for the Rams. Despite playing just 11 games in Ringwood colours, his impact could not be denied. Rogers finished with an average of 89.8 runs per match, showcasing how deadly he can be with bat in hand. Most of his totals came in pretty quick fashion, finding the boundary line with ease, and whenever the Rams managed to produce a winning total, it was often behind the efforts of their star batsman.

Next season

The Rams will need to improve both sides of their game if they are to make the jump into the top eight at the conclusion of next season. First off, a consistent batting partner for Rogers will need to be found, which will make their attack dynamic and hard to stop. On the other hand, their work with ball in hand will also need to lift, as it was their downfall for much of the year. Some handy recruiting may just be on the cards for Ringwood in the upcoming offseason.