Hawks skipper Ben Cooksen won the toss and put the Tigers into bat on a University wicket with early life. Dale Christie gave the Hawks a great start, trapping Sartori in front for a duck, but without a genuine wicket taker, back-to-back wickets proved difficult.

All of the Richmond top order, except for the returning Victorian Champions League team member Aidan Blizzard, managed a start. Blizzard was caught behind from the in-form Dale Tormey for just 7.

Tormey was the pick of the bowlers with 2-33 from 16 tight overs, while a tiring Christie took 2-42 from 16. Leg-spinner Matthew Hewatt, returning from injury, finished with tidy figures of 1-36 from 14 overs.

Tormey continues to impress with both bat and ball. He is a talent that may be destined for higher honours. The day could have been much better though for the Hawks if they hadn't grassed five catches in the second session, including one from captain Sam Taylor, who made the Hawks pay with timely 51.

Eight wickets for 244 was a reasonable day's work for the Hawks. The challenge now will be to wrap up the innings quickly next week and have around 90 overs to chase the total on a flat University wicket.

After having the Tigers at 7-117, the seconds let things slip and are 0-11 chasing Richmond's 271 (Black 4-63, Carroll 3-58). The Tigers made 309 in the thirds (Brown 4-66), while the fourths game was washed out.

All games conclude this Saturday, followed by the first round of Twenty20 fixtures on Sunday, when the Hawks are at home to Geelong.