RHYS Morgan has revealed that Ilkley have used a knockout approach to their last three North Premier league matches as they fought to finish seventh.

Head of rugby Morgan explained: "Nathan (player-coach Smith) said that the match against Birkenhead Park was a quarter-final, the match against Lymm was a semi-final and the match against Kendal was a final.

"Whether we finished seventh or 10th we have had a good season, especially considering the unavailabilities and the injuries that we have suffered."

The thinking worked as Birkenhead Park were defeated 17-16 at Stacks Field three weekends ago, Lymm were beaten 42-12 on their own turf two weekends ago, and Ilkley made it back-to-back away victories by seeing off Kendal 34-14 last weekend.

Seventh place was therefore achieved with a game in hand, and Ilkley, who can climb no higher, and Rossendale, who cannot better fifth, have been given permission by the RFU to waive their match in the Lancashire borough on Saturday, May 5.

Morgan, whose team achieved five away wins during the season (Morley, Billingham, Birkenhead Park, Lymm and Kendal), was really pleased with the way that his team finished the campaign off.

However, he knows that that figure could have been higher as narrow losses came at Pocklington, Wirral and Hull, while a 26-15 defeat at Harrogate could have been another away win were it not for refereeing decisions.

In the final match at Kendal, Ilkley were able to show the attacking prowess of their back three in the first half and the team's defensive grit in the second period.

"It was a really good performance," said Morgan, "as Kendal have never been a soft team who lie down, never been a team to roll over.

"We didn't just throw it wide, we broke them down, but the second half was more difficult and we had to muscle up and show resilience."

Earning their spurs in Cumbria were the front-row trio of Josh Cockerham, Harry Wales and Ollie Hotham, while the second row was manned by teenagers Pete Erskine and Matt Burke ahead of tigerish back row threesome Joe Lowes, J-H Johnson and Pat Power.

Morgan said: "It has been good to have Harry Wales on board, and the 18-year-olds Pete and Matt have been playing above their weight.

"J-H is still newish to the back row, while Joe has learnt control.

"He can now look forward to playing for Yorkshire on May 5, but any one of our back row has been good enough to be selected for Yorkshire."