ILKLEY sevens player Elliot Morgan admits his side were fortunate to win at a recent event after arriving just five minutes before their first match, but as they now gear up to take on the best the region has to offer, he is desperate to keep the hot streak going.

Ilkley Rugby Club won the recent Caldy Sevens which had been selected as one of 32 local qualifiers to host England Rugby’s inaugural community sevens competition, the 24/Sevens series.

The 24/Sevens is an exciting new community sevens series that aims to grow rugby and increase participation among men and women in clubs.

Local qualifier winners will progress to regional play-offs with the competition culminating in a showpiece national grand final event with 24 teams at the end of July, hosted by England Rugby.

Morgan, a Sport Development student at Leeds Beckett University, claims that, after dreadful traffic which almost forced them to miss the tournament all together, Ilkley will only get better from here on in.

“We only just made it. It was the Liverpool Marathon so we were stuck in traffic. It took us three hours and we got there with five minutes to spare,” he said.

“We threw the ball around in a park while the bus was stuck in traffic, just so we could have some form of a warm-up.

“We got there and we were 19-0 down at half-time in the first game so it was looking like a wasted journey.

“Somehow we pulled it together and from there, we found our best form and stormed it from there.

“To go all that way and to win was a great day, but now we’re moving forward and are confident ahead of the next stage. We’ve lost just once together in three years, so we feel we can beat anyone.

“We’ll have a full team so that will be key. We were missing two players at Caldy, so we were short. I played every minute of every game, whereas normally you’re constantly rotating.”

Ilkley will now be part of the 24/Sevens North play-off which takes place at West Park, Leeds on July 17 with a chance to reach the national grand final.

And Morgan, 21, says that while his side will relish the opportunity to play on such a big stage, they are certainly not just there to make up the numbers.

“I played at West Park as a junior until I was 17 so I am excited to get back, and see us do well,” he said.

“We’re a team that plays fast, direct rugby. When we see a gap, we go for it and that is why teams struggle against us. We’re too intense.

“Obviously, we will be facing better teams but we’re a good side too and we’ll be tough to beat.”

*England Rugby 24/Sevens, a new exciting grassroots sevens competition for all rugby teams, welcoming anyone who just wants to pick up a ball and run, for fun or glory. Visit www.englandrugby.com/24sevens to get involved