AFTER ending their worrying sequence of seven straight defeat with a 15-0 victory at Wirral, Ilkley turn their attention to correcting their home record on Saturday.

They entertain relegation-threatened Doncaster Phoenix looking for the first victory at Stacks Field in 2017,

The Dalesmen produced a resolute display to defeat Wirral – a result which moved them up to eighth in National Three North – and now they want to build on that success.

“I was delighted with the performance at Wirral,” said head of rugby Rhys Morgan.

“It wasn’t our most fluent display, but it was a very solid and tactically sound performance.

“We didn’t try to force the game and our patience paid off.”

Morgan has admitted that his team’s barren run had caused him some concern.

“I must confess I was relieved that we finally got over the line and registered a win,” he said.

“I always believed we would turn things around, but you do start to have doubts the longer the losing run goes on. The important thing for me has been the fact that even when we were losing we were gathering bonus points.

“We didn’t drop down the table either and it was a welcome boost to club above Lymm in the table.

“The challenge now is to stay in eighth place. There isn’t any chance of going higher as we are 17 points behind the next team, but finishing top of the bottom half would represent a satisfactory season.

“After all, this is very much a new-look side. It is also a young team that is learning all the time.

“I am sure this team can develop into a very good one.”