RHYS Morgan wants his Ilkley players to spend less time in the sin bin when they return to action after the Christmas break.

"The players have had more yellow cards than I have had Christmas cards," said the Stacks Field Head of Rugby after his team defeated Morley 25-23 to finish the year seventh in the North Premier League.

Will Coates and Steve Burns were both removed from Saturday';s game for ten minutes at key times.

"We can't keep saying we are unlucky to receive yellow cards, we have to understand what we are doing right and correct it.

"Myself and head coach Nathan Smith will be going through videos of past matches to find out what we need to do to prevent our players being sin-binned.

"The yellow cards have really hurt us. They put a strain on the players who remain on the pitch who have to increase their workload."

Smith is currently serving a three-week suspension after he received two yellow cards in one game.

Despite their disciplinary problems and enduring a seven-match losing run at one point, Ilkley are seventh and in their highest Christmas position since promotion in 2015.

They have also had to cope with a crippling injury list and unavailability of key players.

"I have never know us have so many players missing as we have this season," said Morgan. "It says much for the players that we are in our best Christmas position since moving up to this level.

"Hopefully the break will enable a few of our injured players to return to action in the new year."