Ealing on top once again after down year

DISAPPOINTING seasons can often trigger a reaction and in the case of Ealing it was a record-breaking response.

The club, who had won seven successive Middlesex Premier Division titles between 2005 and 2011, finished fifth in 2016 and a full 36 points behind winners Teddington.

For a side that is so used to winning, this was unacceptable, and their response this summer could not have been more emphatic.

Just one defeat and 149 points later and Ealing have that sweet taste of success again and for director of cricket Tom Morton, it’s a sign of things to come.

“It was an incredibly satisfying result at the end of it all,” said Morton, who also keeps wicket and opens the batting.

“We had a new captain at the start of the year, we had a young side and it was quite a challenge. For a lot of the team it would have been their first league title so it was a really good achievement.”

The west London outfit also reached two finals and their tally of 149 was the highest achieved by any side in Middlesex top-flight history.

“Last year was disappointing and we underachieved as a club given the quality of the players we have,” Morton added.

“I think maybe last season was a bit of a wakeup call for the first team. We have a few great overseas players who brought a great influence to the side and the change in captaincy to Christian Martin, who led from the front, had a big influence on the season.

“Ealing Cricket Club has a history of success, especially in the last decade. It has won two national cup competitions so when it’s not successful it can be quite damaging and having no success last season was a down point for the club.

“But it’s nice to see how we’ve bounced back and no doubt there will be a positive feeling going into another tough season next year.”