RHYS Morgan has taken the positives out of his Ilkley side's cup game being postponed this weekend.

Ilkley were due to host Bradford & Bingley in the Yorkshire Cup first round on Saturday, but the Bees called off the tie on Tuesday night, citing a lack of props available.

Now Ilkley can not only look forward to a second round clash against Harrogate in February, but also a free weekend from action.

Head coach Morgan says this break from playing will give his squad a chance to re-charge their batteries. Instead Ilkley will prepare for their next league fixture, a trip to fourth-placed Blaydon on Saturday, November 17.

This follows a bruising 23-8 defeat to North Premier leaders Hull at Stacks Field last Saturday. This loss, their fifth out of their first nine games, see Ilkley in ninth place on 22 points.

Morgan said his side need to retain the ball better, as shown in the defeat to the league leaders.

He said: "I have got a small squad that need looking after.

"I'm pretty disappointed that the game has been called off. We had everything ready.

"Glad, though, that the lads can have a rest, as that is incredibly important. We have a few sore bodies at the moment."

Despite the setback to his side's fixtures plans, Morgan says Ilkley now have then chance to concentrate of the league up until the cup's next round

He said: "The league takes precedence over cups.

"Hull was a pretty brutal game. I'm very proud that we stood up to them. We gave them a good scare. We did not have enough ball.

"We put Hull under the cosh as well. We were 8-5 up at one stage and we were in the game.

"We gave it away too cheaply and too quickly.

"We have got to learn to keep the ball and not kick it away and lose it too cheaply. Hull's ball retention was good. Their mistake level was really low. They are a semi-professional club.

"Hull resulted to off the ball incidents that did not go punished.

"We had a light training session on Tuesday as there is no point flogging people and we have to get people ready to play again.

"It looks like we will play Harrogate in the second round of the Yorkshire Cup next February and that will be a humdinger, but we will have to see how we are playing by then."

Morgan added his players will now be ready to re-group ahead of the Blaydon game.