ILKLEY'S head of rugby Rhys Morgan may have been happy with their 26-18 National League Three victory at Cleckheaton last Saturday.

However, despite it being their third victory in four matches at tier five, he most certainly wasn't happy with the display.

"It was probably about a 30-minute performance, but we are still learning and need to polish things up a bit," said Morgan, looking back at their derby triumph at Moorend.

"We had a good 31-8 home win over Hull the previous week and we probably believed our own publicity a bit too much, and Cleckheaton can bring you down to earth.

"They have beaten Stockport and Morley and narrowly lost to Lymm, and we didn't play well against them in the first half.

"They are always going to give you a physical test in the forwards but we played within the laws and Cleckheaton had three players sin-binned."

Cleckheaton defeated visitors Ilkley 17-13 last February and looked like they might repeat the dose when they led 13-3 after 33 minutes as they capitalised on Ilkley failing to find touch with a penalty.

But the hosts also paid for missing all three of their conversions and for twice failing to tackle Ilkley's man of the match, full back Ben Magee, on runs from deep.

The first time, when the score was 13-6 in the first minute of the second half, he collected a Matt Piper kick inside Ilkley's ten-metre line and cut through the home defence for a superb individual try which Joe Rowntree converted.

Then, 20 minutes later, he was at it again, creating a try for debutant right winger Dion Hendricks, Rowntree again converting to put them 20-13 in front.

Morgan said: "I don't say much to Ben, apart from an odd word here and there.

"I just leave him to his own devices. He can be frustrating as he blew a couple of chances in the first half when he should have passed but then he scores a try and makes a try, and it was good for Dion to score on his debut."

As for where he would like Ilkley to finish (they are currently fifth), Morgan confessed: "I haven't set a target, but the players have - they want to finish in the top five."

On Saturday, Ilkley are at home to Firwood Waterloo, who are next-to-bottom with a point.