Hamilton go back up at first attempt
Gemmell says hard work lies ahead for club
David Gemmell praised his Hamilton Rugby Club side as they achieved promotion back to the BT National League 1 at the first time of asking.
A convincing 75-12 win at home to Whitecraigs saw the Bulls pip Dumfries Saints to the promotion slot by three points. Coach Gemmell knows it has been an enormous effort to get back up.
He said: “it is a big achievement. People underestimate how difficult it is to be relegated and bounce straight back up. There’s a massive expectation from everybody.
“We came down last season for a reason and that was because we didn’t play well enough.
“That means you’re not good enough for that league, which probably means you’re going to be fighting to get back up.
“I’m really delighted about the way the guys showed their mettle at times in the last month. We’ve been behind in practically every game and were strong enough to come back.”
David Gemmell is delighted to have steered Hamilton back up to BT National League 1 – and intends to stay there.
The Bulls crashed down from the second tier of Scottish club rugby in season 2016-17 following a disappointing campaign, but their 75-12 win over Whitecraigs on Saturday saw them bounce straight back up.
Tries by James Howatson (4), Ross Inglis (2), Hugo Crush, Jordan Mclean, Richard Maxton, Robert Brown and Josh White, with 10 conversions by Andy Wilson, gave Hamilton their vital win.
Gemmell was delighted with the achievement, but says it’s now about progression for the Laigh Bent club.
He said: “Mid-season wasn’t too good, but we had set our stall out to get promoted, and at the end of the day we got ourselves promoted, so we’re absolutely delighted.
“It would have been really nice to have put a cherry on top and gone up as champions, but it wasn’t our year for that, Kirkcaldy had that sorted.
“It’s just a really satisfying feeling to get your goal achieved, come the end of the year, so I’m chuffed for the guys.
“We’re looking for a continual development, and to make sure this club keeps developing we need to be playing in that league, so we’re there, and next season’s challenge will be to make sure we do ourselves justice in that next league and stay there.
“With the Super Six stuff coming in and reorganisation, it’s imperative that we’re in that top 20 and make sure we give a good account of what Hamilton Rugby is all about.”
Gemmell added: “The ultimate target has to be to retain that top 20 slot. We have to make a good account of ourselves in that division, to continue to progress and develop.
“If we can continue to develop the way we play rugby, work on our infrastructure here, make Hamilton Rugby Club somewhere that people want to come and play rugby... these are all aspirations for us, and there are a lot of ambitious people making decisions here.
“In rugby terms, it’s about making sure we stay a ‘Division 2’ club, make sure our second team continue to play at the top level of rugby there, make sure the 3rd team is amply supported and getting positions for the under-18s and the guys that come through, to make sure these guys play rugby all the time.
“Our youth systems play in the Mitsubishi League, which is the top league they can be in, and that’s just a continual progression of players coming through.
“From a coaching point of view what can we do to make sure these guys get a game? We’re looking to get a fourth team back out. It’s all really difficult, it takes a lot of energy and time to do, but that’s what we’re committed about, and we’re ambitious to make sure we’re the best that we can be.
“We’re really chuffed to see kids running about, our under-15s and under-16s are ball-boys. It’s a community club and that’s what makes us most proud.”
Saturday’s win was the last in a Hamilton shirt for Richie ‘Pepsi’ Maxton after 197 appearances and Gemmell couldn’t speak highly enough of him.
He said: “Richie has played 197 games for Hamilton and that’s on top of all the games he played at Stewart’s-melville and Glasgow Hawks. I don’t quite know what his goals are for next year, but I know he will be keen to stay involved in rugby, so we’ll just give him some time. Whether he chooses to take a break is up to him, he will always have a place at Hamilton.”