Ilkley’s head of rugby Rhys Morgan is hoping his club can cap their season by winning the Aire-Wharfe Cup.

They visit holders Bramley in the semi-finals tonight with the prize for the winners being a match up against Old Otliensians.

Morgan said: “I know it is the end of a very long season, but we will be putting out as strong a side as we can.

“I believe it is important that we try and win the competition as it would be a reward for all the progress that has been made..

“It isn’t just about the first team finishing third in Yorkshire One, it is about the outstanding performances put in by our second and third teams too.

“The progress and raising of standards at all levels has meant that players like Josh Cockerham and Paul Petchey have stepped up to the first team and made their mark.

“We have also seen Steve Nolson and Tom Baxter establish themselves after their moves from Aireborough. I am happy that we are developing a s a club on exactly the right lines.”

Ilkley finished their league programme on Saturday in the same way that they started it back in September with defeat against second-placed Huddersfield YMCA.

Looking bavack at the league campaign, Morgan said, “If you had said to me at the the start of the season that we would have finished third I would have taken that.

“Obviously promotion is the ultimate goal, and if you look back at things the defeat at Huddersfield on the first day of the season when we let a 19-point lead slip, was costly.

“We also suffered some silly defeats at Pontefract and Dinnington while we went down twice in close games to North Ribblesdale.”

Looking ahead, Morgan expects a real scrap for promotion next season.

With Keighley, Darlington and Durham City coming down and ambitious Doncaster Phoenix coming up, the division will be even more competitive.

“When you look at the teams in the league next time it is going to be tough. We want to be up there in the promotion mix but so too will clubs like York and North Ribblesdale.”

Morgan will shortly start recruiting for next season and his priority will be a quality stand-off after the departure of Mike Cacchia who has enjoyeds an impressive first season with the club.