ILKLEY coach Rhys Morgan was delighted with the way his North One East promotion-chasing side demolished Northern 62-0 at Stacks Field on Saturday.

The result extended their unbeaten home record to 28 games – a run that stretches back two years to the final game of the 2012-13 season.

Morgan confessed: "Even I raised a smile at the performance. I told the backs that they had to pull their socks up after their loose play in the win at Old Crossleyans and they responded.

We scored some fine tries and the back play in the second half was the reason we won by such a convincing margin."

Another player sporting a broad grin was Australian flanker Nick Carolan. He has spent much of the season sidelined with a knee injury and marked his return with two tries.

He got his chance because Stuart Brewer, who had played his first game of the season the previous week, was experiencing problems from his long-term knee injury.

"Nick had a huge grin on his face when he scored his first try," said Morgan. "You would have thought he had got the try that had won the title. It meant a lot to him."

The title battle remains as tight as ever with Sheffield holding a one-point lead with two games left. Morgan admitted that as well as watching the progress of the league leaders, he is also keeping his eyes firmly on events in North West One.

"It is uncanny. Sheffield are a point ahead of us and have one win ,ore which will be a determining factor if we end up level on points.

"In North West One Kirkby Lonsdale, our likely opponents in a promotion play-off, also have one point and one win more. That would mean them getting home advantage so there is plenty of incentive for us to do all we can in our matches at Driffield and home to Pocklington."

Ilkley have no match this weekend but their talented young winger Ben Magee is due to play for the North of England under-20s.