A YOUNG, inexperienced Hawthorn Monash University line-up was no match for an all-powerful Ringwood gunning for a hat-trick of premierships this season.
While the premier would have been surprised to have been sent into bat on a fast home track on Saturday, the Hawks couldn’t create enough early pressure to put any fear into the Rams batsmen.
Rod Bird and Lukas Hoogenboom were generally too full, which played into the hands of the opposition.
It was not until the introduction of first-year recruit Mark Carroll that the Hawks looked likely to contain Ringwood. He bowled with good pace and accuracy, and deservedly finished with 1-41 from his 10 overs.
Hoogenboom picked up two wickets but the Rams piled on the misery, finishing with 5-314 from 50 overs.
Tom Stray, a Victorian player-in-waiting, was the pick of the bats with 98.
The reply never looked likely to threaten once Dale Tormey was judged leg before wicket to one that appeared to come off the inside edge. Even without its state squad bowler Steve Gilmour, the Ringwood attack was far too strong, routing the Hawks for 108 in just 35 overs.
Rohan Wight was again the pick of the bats scoring 30 from 49 balls, following on from his strong debut in round 1. He appears the likeliest of the Hawks to be the backbone to any substantial scores they make this season.
First-year coach Wendell Perumal acknowledged the huge gap in experience and skill between his young group and the dual-premiership winning Ringwood.
“We thought about batting first, but the opportunity for our young group to bowl against some of the better players in the competition as they constructed a score was too good to refuse.”
Perumal said learning from the best was the key to development.
“I would hope that our players watched and noted the way they built their innings, and the way they executed their strokes.
“The batting though was disappointing. While 314 was a massive ask, to be dismissed in just 34 overs on a good track is disappointing.”
The Hawks are still without a win with the seconds going down by six wickets after posting 187. Aaron Dragwidge (58) and SateshSriskandarajah (53) were the shining lights with the bat, and skipper Dale Christie (3-31) with the ball.
The fourths were defeated by five wickets after posting 147 (Veltri 30, Blair 37), with Cameron taking 3-27.