ILKLEY may have lost their last four league matches in dropping from sixth to tenth in National Three North. However, there is no pressing of the panic button by head of rugby Rhys Morgan.

The Dalesmen have suffered defeats at Wirral (10-5) and Rossendale (30-19) and at home to Birkenhead Park (41-13) and, last Saturday, Firwood Waterloo (11-3).

He said: "We were shocking against Birkenhead Park, but it is not as if we are losing every game by 20 or 30 points.

"We are not getting the bounce of the ball or the decisions, such as against Waterloo when they should have had a sin-binning

"We are losing by a score, or to a late try or a late penalty, and the lads could not give me any more.

"And while we were woeful against Birkenhead Park, both Wirral and Rossendale admitted afterwards that we should have won, while I didn't get the chance to talk to anyone from Waterloo afterwards.

"But the majority of the reason why we have been beaten in four games in a row in the league is down to personnel.

"We have lost five key players in four weeks – Iain McKenzie, our captain Josh Kimber, who was out for two weeks, Tom Baxter, Pete Small and the departure of Steve Graham."

However, Morgan added: "We have signed Nathan Smith from Harrogate, who has also come onto our coaching team and is doing well, and we are due to announce imminently the signing of a hooker from Harrogate.

"Also prop Dan Lawrence has stepped up from the second team and is doing well, while Josh Cockerham has also stepped up to the plate, and Jon Hutchinson has stepped in at hooker."

On Saturday, Ilkley are at 12th-placed Huddersfield YMCA, one of four clubs who are below Ilkley in the fifth tier, and a week on Saturday the Dalesmen are at home to Lymm, who are currently seventh.

Morgan said: "Saturday is a massive game, and it is important that we don't freeze, that we don't panic.

"If we keep doing what we have been doing, I am confident that we will be okay, and I want us to get something out of both these matches before we head into the new year."

Ilkley could have Baxter back and may well start with No 8 Will Davies, who was on the bench last weekend.