Every Monday, the Stray Ferret publishes a round-up of sports action in the Harrogate district, focusing on the first team results of local amateur and semi-professional sports clubs.

Here's what happened during the week of February 2 to 8.

1. Harrogate Railway lose again

Harrogate Railway continued their terrible start to 2026, losing their fifth game in six matches on Saturday. Alex Burton’s late strike could only limit the damage, as South Leeds scored three goals in the first half to win 3-1. With second-placed Wakefield winning, the Rail can now only move to third place in the NCEL Division One if they win their games in hand. They are 15 points behind leaders Dearne and District.

2. League upset sees Ripon RUFC move closer to top half 

Ripon Rugby Club moved to within a point of the top half of the table on Saturday, beating league leaders Bridlington 32-5 at home. Bridlington had previously lost only one of their 13 league games until Saturday. With Baildon’s game being postponed, Ripon were able to play their game in hand over them, moving within one point of them in the league. The sixth-placed Bradford side has 31 points, while Ripon has 30.

3. Harrogate Hockey Club beaten in derby

Harrogate Hockey Club’s men’s side was narrowly edged out 4-3 by York on Saturday. Harrogate took the lead in the 10th minute courtesy of a Charles Edmondson finish, but York went ahead nine minutes later, scoring three times in 14 minutes. Edmondson completed his hat-trick with two strikes in three minutes in the second half to level the score, but a 69th-minute finish for York proved to be Harrogate’s undoing. Harrogate are eighth in the Yorkshire and North East Open Men’s Premier Division, six points behind seventh-placed Whitley Bay and Tynemouth, who have a game in hand over Harrogate.

4. Ripon Rockets win the league

Ripon Rockets won the NYNAL Senior Winter League with three games to go on Monday. Beating Galaxy 61-40 away from home, the Rockets made it 15 wins out of 15. The Ripon side needs three more wins to complete a perfect season, winning every game possible – a remarkable achievement in amateur netball.

Results

Men's Football

Harrogate Railway

South Leeds 3-1 Harrogate Railway

Knaresborough Town

Campion 2-1 Knaresborough

Ripon City

Field Olympic 5-1 Ripon City

Harlow Hill

Postponed

Boroughbridge AFC

Postponed

Women’s Football

Harrogate Town

N/A

Knaresborough Town

Postponed

Harrogate Railway

Postponed

Boroughbridge

Postponed

Rugby Union

Harrogate Rugby Club

N/A

Ripon Rugby Club

Ripon 32-5 Bridlington

Knaresborough Rugby Club

N/A

Harrogate Pythons

N/A

Men’s Hockey

Harrogate Hockey Club

Harrogate 3-4 City of York

Women’s Hockey

Harrogate Hockey Club

Harrogate 0-1 Doncaster

Netball

Ripon Rockets

Galaxy 40-61 Rockets

Harrogate Phoenix

Claro Netball 59-56 Harrogate Phoenix

Claro Netball

Claro Netball 59-56 Harrogate Phoenix