Richmond captain Kevin Barrett reckons winning the Middlesex County League Division Two crown is the first step in turning his side into Premier League title challengers.

Barrett’s men brushed aside the challenge of Enfield at the weekend as they cruised to a 125-run victory thanks largely to 71 from in-form Dominic Ridley and three wickets from Middlesex star Robbie Williams.

It was Richmond’s third triumph of the campaign and puts them ten points behind leaders Winchmore Hill as they continue to improve following last season’s top-flight relegation without a league win to their name.

And Barrett, whose side face Harrow Town on Saturday, says it is the start of a long term plan to break the dominance of Ealing, Finchley and Teddington.

“There is a happy vibe at the club. In a team sport, winning games plays a big part in that,” he said.

“The goal this season is to win as many games as possible and go back up as champions.

“We’ll then look to retain this group of players - perhaps adding a batter or a bowler - so that we not just competing next season, but to establish ourselves in the top three.

“Then we will be looking to win the league.”

Former Surrey professional Barrett took over the captaincy this summer, having rediscovered his passion for the game after rupturing cruciate ligaments in his knee on his Richmond debut in 2002.

The opening batsman returned to action for the Old Deer Park club last year and has found form enough to hit 411 runs in 13 innings at the helm.

He has overseen the rise of opening bowler Neil Hemstalk - who has claimed 26 wickets in all cricket so far this season - from fourth team cricket and he believes a more professional approach is paying dividends.

“It has been a good start for us. To be fourth in the league and still in three cup competitions at this stage of the season is pretty unheard of,” he added.

“There is a good training ethic in the squad. The more you practise the better chance you have of performing at the weekend.

“We are trying to do things the right away and we are just focusing on our strengths. No matter who we play we expect to win.

“That is not being arrogant, it just means we are not thinking too much about the opposition and making sure we look after our own performances.”

In the Premier Division, Twickenham managed to snatch a losing draw from the jaws of victory at Eastcote on Saturday as Australian Tom Meredith’s second league century (111) and 53 from Dave Russell helped the visitors post 272 all out.

Three wickets from Fawad Mullahzadah helped reduce the hosts to 122 for eight, but an unbroken 107-run ninth wicket stand from Alan Coleman (68*) and Gurjit Sandhu (44*) left the Ts frustrated.

Third-placed Teddington lost ground on leaders Ealing with a surprise 174-run humiliation at Stanmore, who had Jonathan Whealing’s 112 to thank for posting a mammoth 292 for seven.

Only James Keightley (24), Andrew Clarke (30) and Duncan Wood (22), showed any resistance as the visitors crumbled to 118 all out.

Fixtures: Teddington v Shepherds Bush, Acton v Twickenham, Richmond v Harrow Town, Barnes v Indian Gymkhana.