ILKLEY'S head of rugby Rhys Morgan felt sorry for forwards' coach Nathan Smith after their 58-9 home drubbing against National League Three North leaders Huddersfield.

Morgan was disappointed by his side's showing and urged them to bounce back at Sandal on Saturday.

He said: "I was off last week but Nathan prepared us really well and told them what to expect from Huddersfield and what we should do ourselves, and the players let him down.

"He was absolutely wounded. We needed to be on the button, clinical, error-free to stand any chance but we missed line-outs and tackles and blew three or four opportunities in attack.

"We had a catch and drive, but chose to break off when we should have stayed connected but we were facing the champions elect (played seven, won seven), although they haven't played Rossendale or Wirral yet.

"Huddersfield have kept everybody from last season and recruited five more players, and are determined to go straight back up, and they were patient and very methodical."

So how do Ilkley ensure that a mauling like this does not affect confidence?

Morgan said: "For the seven years I have been involved with Ilkley, there is always one match a season where we have suffered a heavy beating.

"We are a side with local Ilkley lads and we have recruited from clubs such as Old Grovians, Old Otliensians and West Park Leeds – we aren't a club that have signed a first-team hooker from somewhere up the leagues.

"But Aaron Magee played well off the bench on Saturday and Chris Blackhall shored up the scrum when he came on.

"We aren't a side that are going to finish first or second. We are a side that are vying for fourth to eighth place, just like Sandal, who we visit on Saturday.

"We have to dust ourselves down and remind ourselves that we have won four matches out of seven and have beaten Morley and Cleckheaton away and Hull and Waterloo at home.

"We should have a nine playing at nine, a ten playing at ten and a 12 playing at 12 this weekend, which will help, but Sandal have former players in Stevie Graham and Steve Nolson who will be wanting to turn us over and I think it will be a very close game."