NIGEL HAMBLY Interview Western Morning News – Mark Stevens
REDRUTH Coach Nigel Hambly believes the capture of Lewis Vinnicombe from the Cornish Pirates will help make up for losing record points-scorer Mike Hook to National League One side Pertemps Bees.
As well as welcoming back Vinnicombe, the Reds have also signed second-row forward Keith Larrard from Welsh Premiership club Bedwas as they strengthen their ranks ahead of the 2007/08 National Two season, which starts in September.
Hambly now hopes that the new recruits will help them reach their goal of promotion to Division One.
“That’s the plan, that’s one of our aims, whether it happens this season or next season, we’ll wait and see.” he said. “I’m enjoying the break but it’s coming together. It will be very tough though, there’s a lot of good signings being made in Division Two.
“Word on the street is that two or three clubs, at least, are going to really bang some money into it. But we’ve got a really good team spirit and team ethic and the boys play for each other.
“We’ve also got local business people like John Bealing and his partner Dave Powell sponsoring Lewis and it really helps us to have people like that sponsoring our players.”
“I don’t think we’ll be too far off. But promotion and things like that are for the press to talk about.”
The Recreation Ground faithful will welcome the return of Vinnicombe, who Hambly believes will make an already formidable back division even stronger.
Hambly said: “I saw him play a few times at the Pirates and I thought he looked a capable Division One player, but I think him moving back to Redruth is more a step sideways than a move backwards.
“I know people will say he’s moving down a level, but he comes here to us to play for a side in good form. He’ll definitely add some firepower to our back line which looks pretty good at the moment.”
“Lewis is a local boy, he grew up with us, learned his rugby with us and he felt his move to the Pirates was the right one at the time, but he didn’t really get the lucky breaks that you need sometimes when you move to a bigger club.”
Unfortunately for the Reds, fly-half Hook has decided that now is the time for him to take a chance, and he has accepted a contract with Pertemps Bees. Hook’s decision leaves Hambly and director of rugby Dave Penberthy with a difficult slot to fill.
Hambly said: “We’re seriously looking for a ten now with the news that Mike Hook is leaving us for Pertemps and that leaves us with a space to fill.
“I’m pretty confident we’ll get a decent calibre of player and hopefully he’ll fit into his shoes. Admittedly, those are quite big shoes to fill.”
“Mike had a decent season for us, he kicked his goals well and as the season went on he got better and better, but these things happen. We’ve got two or three leads on people that we’re looking at, so hopefully in the next couple of weeks we’ll announce another signing.”
The arrival 6’8 Larrard is, therefore a timely lift for Redruth. Penberthy said: “Keith has moved to the area and chose to approach us about joining. Obviously we hope he enjoys his rugby with us and I am sure he will be another valuable asset to the squad.”