Lewis already plotting attack on Division 2A after ’Stones’ promotion joy

KEVIN LEWIS hasn’t even had time to digest Greystones RFC’s Division 2B success yet but he is already adding Divison 2A to his next menu.

He joked that planning for the 2017/18 season began a few hours after Saturday’s title clincher but he does hope to be the man around to guide Greystones back to the First Division, the place where he feels that they belong.

It was mission accomplished on Saturday in Dr Hickey Park with a 45-10 victory over Old Crescent.

It wasn’t smooth sailing but his side overcame the odds, and their nerves, to seal their place in Division 2A.

“It was a long season but a very enjoyable one. We played some very, very good rugby and got a lot of points but we had a few slips along the way. We lost at home to Armagh before Christmas and it looked like curtains then but there’s a great team spirit and everyone pulled together and we got our act together in January and we haven’t looked back,” said Lewis.

“There was a lot of nerves before today – much more than I would have expected there to be. Once they got the early try they settled down and from that moment on it was very good for us.”

The Co. Wicklow club will be the newcomers in the third tier next season but Lewis is already plotting for a rapid rise and it will be possible with a few new faces – and a welcomed return for some old ones.

“Greystones were a first division team for a long time and our aspiration is that this time next year we’re heading back into Division 1. You don’t stop. If you stop, you lose momentum and if you lose momentum, you start going backwards.

“There’s always changes. That team will have their season but we’ve a couple of very good players that are away at the moment and they’ll be coming back and hopefully everybody else comes back and there’s always one or two people who’ll want to join Greystones so we look forward to strengthening the squad over the summer.

“I hope to be here. That’s the plan and hopefully all the coaching team will stay around too.”

Report and photos inside.