Table-topping Ilkley will be looking to extend their winning run to nine games at Stacks Field on Saturday.

The impressive sequence of results has propelled the Dalesmen into the leadership of Yorkshire Division One, and head of rugby Rhys Morgan doesn’t want it to end.

As he prepared his team for the clash with mid-table Heath, Morgan spoke of the importance of maintaining the winning habit.

He said: “This is the best run I can remember in my time at the club but it is vital we do not get complacent about our results.

“We have got ourselves into a good position and must capitalise on it if we are to achieve our aim of winning promotion this season.

“There is a buzz about the club and the players all want to be a part of it. However, if standards drop I will not hesitate to bring in players who are prepared to do the hard work needed to achieve our goals.”

Ilkley struggled to beat Heath 13-11 when the sides met earlier this season and Morgan will be looking for his side to play better than they did in last week’s 17-6 win at Keighley.

“We have things to work on but we must not focus too much on the negative aspects of the perfor- mance,” he said.

“It is easy for people to say that we were careless in our attacking play but overlook the fact we haven’t conceded a try in our last three games and have only had six points scored against us.

“Defence is an important skill and isn’t always fully appreciated. Even when we weren’t at our best on Saturday we still managed to prevent Keighley from scoring a try, something we haven’t done too often against them in the past.”

Wingers JH Johnson and Paul Petchey are available to return and will be competing for places with Andy Malley and Ed Brown.

One Heath player who will be wanting to put one over Ilkley is their former coach Hamish Pratt.

Morgan said: “I really enjoyed my time working here as a coach with him three seasons ago.”