Every Monday, the Stray Ferret publishes a round-up of sports action in the Harrogate district. We focus on the first team results of local amateur and semi-professional sports clubs. Here's what happened during the week of October 6 to 12.

Men's Football

Harrogate Railway

The Rail played two games last week, winning in the league cup on Tuesday (October 6) and in the league on Saturday (October 11). After a 0-0 draw with Ilkley in the cup, Harrogate progressed to the next round via a 5-3 penalty shootout win. Goalkeeper Toby Wells was named player of the match.

Harrogate Railway also secured a 4-1 away win over seventh-placed Armthorpe Welfare in the league. Harris Eggleston, Alex Burton, Alex Ingham and Elliot Holmes all got on the scoresheet for Harrogate, while Cole Patrick got the only goal for Armthorpe. Holmes was awarded Railway’s player of the match. Harrogate are currently second in the NCEL Division One, with 33 points from 14 games. They have two games in hand on leaders Dearne and District, who have 37 points.

Knaresborough Town

Knaresborough drew 1-1 at home to fifth-placed Sheffield on Saturday to extend their winless streak to eight games. Jack Dyche gave Knaresborough an early lead before Alexander Hardwick equalised for Sheffield with half an hour to go. The Boro’ sit in 10th place in the NCEL Premier Division, with 19 points from 15 games and a goal difference of minus one.

Ripon City

Ripon got back to winning ways with a 4-0 victory away to Hall Green United on Saturday. Goals from Kyle Fox, Alex Myers, and two from Oliver Washbrook saw City rise to third in the West Yorkshire Association Football League (WYAFL) Premier Division. Ripon have 24 points from 10 games, and are behind Littletown and Beeston St Anthony.

Harlow Hill

Harlow Hill beat Kirk Deighton Rangers 3-0 at home to maintain their spot at the top of the WYAFL Division One. Two goals from James Buchanan and one from Hayden Gray saw Harlow increase the gap with second-placed Otley Town to five, while still having two games in hand over them. Harlow currently have 24 points from nine games, having won eight and lost one.

Boroughbridge AFC

Boroughbridge recorded a disappointing 2-2 draw with bottom-of-the-table Kellingley Welfare on Saturday. Goals from the Bridge’s Harry Burland and Jack Herron were cancelled out by strikes from Aaron Black and Lucas Brown. Boroughbridge have had an inconsistent start to the season following their promotion last year, winning two, drawing three and losing three. They have nine points from their first eight games, but have two games in hand on many teams in the WYAFL Division One.

Women’s Football

Harrogate Town

Harrogate Town moved up to fourth in the North East Regional Women’s Football League Premier Division on Sunday (October 12), with a narrow 4-3 win over Ossett United. A Lauren Doyle hat-trick and one from Hannah Sturdy ensured that a hat-trick from Ossett’s Emily Burgin was not enough to take any points from the Sulphurites. Town now have nine points from their first five games to perch behind Thornaby, Ponteland and Bradford City.

Knaresborough Town

The Boro’ maintained their unbeaten start to the league season, beating Silsden 3-0 away from home on Sunday. Two goals came from captain Emily Crispin and the other was from Rachel Carmichael. Jenny Crossley was named Knaresborough’s player of the match. Knaresborough are third in the West Riding County Women's League (WRCWL) Premier Division with 12 points from four games, having won all four. They are only one point off first place and have a game in hand over Leeds Medics and Dentists and Thackley, who are both above them.

Harrogate Railway

The Rail suffered their third defeat of the season away at Wyke Wanderers on Sunday, losing 3-2. Two goals from Harrogate’s Caitlyn Atkin were not enough, as two from Lois Cooper and one from Melissa West saw Wyke come out as victors. Railway have picked up just four points from their first five games in the WRCWL Premier Division and sit in eighth place. They are four points above bottom-placed Skipton.

Boroughbridge

Boroughbridge women staged an emphatic 9-0 win away at Queensbury Celtic in the league cup on Sunday. Chloe Bethell scored four goals, one of which came directly from a corner, while Emma Ayton scored two and Georgie Taylor, Emma Colley and Ruth Robertson all got one. Ellie Reeves was named the Bridge’s player of the match.

Rugby

Harrogate Rugby Club

Harrogate fended off an Alnwick comeback on Saturday, holding on to a narrow 21-20 lead after being 14-3 up at half-time. Harrogate’s tries came from Jacob Percival, Kodie Brook, and Amrit Sharma – all of which were converted by Rory Macnab. This win moves Harrogate level on points with Alnwick, who sit above the Aces on points difference. Harrogate sit in fourth place in the Regional 1 North East League, with 21 points from five games. They currently sit behind Ilkley, Heath and Alnwick.

Ripon Rugby Club

Ripon lost 45-38 in a high-scoring match away to Old Otliensians on Saturday. Ripon’s tries came from Elliot Davies Taylor, Zak Kirby, Henry Hanson, Allan Hudson and Nicholas Perez, with Morgan Clark converting all but one. This is Ripon’s third loss in four games in the Counties 2 Yorkshire League, putting them in seventh place out of 12. They have seven points from those four games.

Knaresborough Rugby Club

Knaresborough were beaten convincingly by Leeds Medics and Dentists on Saturday, losing 57-21. This is Knaresborough’s fourth loss in five games in the Counties 4 Yorkshire North League, leaving them in fifth place out of eight. They have six points from their first five games.

Harrogate Pythons

Harrogate Pythons also lost on Saturday, with the final scoreline 46-15 away at West Leeds. Pythons’ tries came from Jordan Payne and Hugh Tatlow, alongside a penalty from Jed Carr and a conversion from Mikey Adams. Having lost three out of their first four games, the Pythons sit in ninth place in the Counties 1 Yorkshire League. They have seven points.

Men's Hockey

Harrogate Hockey Club

Harrogate beat Durham City 5-2 at the weekend, with goals from captain Joe Horne, Charles Edmondson x2, Marcus Gentle and Joe Lyon. Durham’s goals came from Duncan Robertson and Anthony Hulse. Harrogate sit in fourth place in the Yorkshire and North East Open Premier Division with 10 points from five games. They have won three, drawn one, and lost one.

Women’s Hockey

Harrogate Hockey Club

Harrogate continued their terrible start to the season with another loss, 3-2 at home to Durham University. Goals from Harrogate’s Evelyn Wright and Hannah Burt were not enough, as two from Emily Gibbins and one from Elena Bensi sank Harrogate. They currently sit bottom of the Yorkshire & North East Women's Premier Division, having picked up only three points from their first five games.

Netball

Ripon Rockets

Ripon Rockets won their third successive game against Claro Netball on Monday (October 6), with a final scoreline of 65-36. They remain top of the table in the NYNAL Senior Winter League, with 15 points from their first three games.

Harrogate Phoenix

Harrogate Phoenix lost their third successive game on Monday, losing 44-30 against the Sirens. They currently sit bottom of the NYNAL Senior Winter League, having picked up zero points from their first three games.

Claro Netball

Claro Netball suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Ripon Rockets on Monday, losing 65-36. They have now dropped to fifth place in the NYNAL Senior Winter League, with 11 points from their first three games.