And after losing, coming off second best on day one of the two-dayer, this weekend is shaping up to be a big one.
Day one action started well when Rhinos captain Liam Pitts called the toss of the coin correctly.
The Rhinos decided to bat first.
The opening pair of Boddie Arthur and Harry Hillier looked solid before Arthur (3) nicked one to the keeper off the left arm paceman, Will Sharp.
Liam Pitts (4) was looking to dominate the bowling striking his second ball beautifully through covers for four.
Unfortunately, Pitts drove the next ball in the air in the same spot and was caught by Mitchell Richmann.
Two more wickets for Sharp, and the Rhinos were 2/10.
Brad Todd was solid in his performance, which included a powerful back foot drive to the cover point boundary.
Todd (6) played one back onto his stumps off the bowling of Brendan Lewis.
Dean Edge joined Hillier (9) and the pair took the Rhinos score to 67.
A slower ball from Johno Oliver found the gap between Hillier’s bat and pad, and the Rhinos were 4/67.
Evan Pocock was elevated up the order with some recent good knocks.
Lewis bowled Pocock (2) and the Rhinos were 5/76 and in trouble.
Edge was showing great form with the bat before being adjudged LBW for 45.
His innings included six boundaries and some lovely cover drives.
At 6/79 the Rhinos needed some lower order partnerships to post a competitive score.
Mitchell Jefferies (3) was run out for the second week in a row.
Barooga captain Kale Watkins spun one past Patrick Westcott, bowled for one.
The Rhinos had lost 2/0 and were now 8/80.
A-grade debutant Jai Ezard got off the mark with a boundary before being bowled by Lewis.
Lewis took four wickets for the day in a great display of pace bowling.
Rana Aslam did his best to hang around but was eventually bowled by Oliver for one.
Lach Holloway was not out for three.
The Rhinos were all out for 88.
Best figures for Barooga included Lewis 4/15 off 11 overs, Sharp 2/9, Oliver 2-7.
Barooga batted the remaining 32 overs and finished 0/87 - Jamie Stanyer contributing 39 and Nathan Gossayn 26.
Stanyer batted superbly hitting the bad balls to the boundary and scoring plenty of quick singles.
The Rhinos fielded well but the Barooga pair offered no chances.
There were no wickets for the Rhinos bowlers, but Todd (conceding only 13 runs off seven overs), Jai Ezard (nine runs off five) and Boddie Arthur (five runs off four) were the pick of the bowlers.
It will be a tough ask for the Rhinos team this week as Barooga will be looking for batting practice as the prepare for finals.
A positive for the day was Evan Pocock who played his 50th A-grade game for the Rhinos on the weekend. It is a massive achievement.
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