Every Monday, the Stray Ferret publishes a round-up of sports action in the Harrogate district.

We will focus on the first team results of local amateur and semi-professional sports clubs.

Here's what happened during the week of September 29 to October 5.

Men's Football

Harrogate Railway

The Rail had a slight wobble on Saturday (October 4), rescuing a point from 19th-placed Athersley Recreation in the 87th minute. The match finished 1-1, with goals from Athersley’s Luca Cancello and Harrogate’s Harry Lynn. Defender Harry Lee was named Harrogate’s player of the match. Railway currently sit in second place in Division One of the NCEL, with 30 points. They are four points behind Dearne and District, with two games in hand over them.

Knaresborough Town

The Boro’ played another two games last week, losing 1-0 at home to Barton Town on Tuesday (September 30) and 4-0 away at Handsworth on Saturday. Failing to score a single goal, Knaresborough have dropped to 10th place in the Premier Division of the NCEL after 14 games. Danny South scored the goal for Barton Town, while Jordan Hines, Charlie Booker, Scott Ruthven, and Liam Owen were on the scoresheet for Handsworth. Knaresborough had two men sent off against Handsworth.

Ripon City

Ripon registered their second loss of the season at home to Field Olympic on Saturday. A goal from Zack Gallimore wasn’t enough as goals from Field Olympic’s Omar Habeeb and Joseph Colley sank City. With their win, Field Olympic have leapfrogged Ripon into third place in the Premier Division of the West Yorkshire Association Football League (WYAFL) on goal difference. Ripon sit in fourth place with 21 points from nine games, and have a game in hand over third-placed Field Olympic.

Harlow Hill

Harlow Hill edged their way to a 2-1 victory away at Rawdon Old Boys on Saturday, after drawing 1-1 at half time. Harlow’s goals came from Greg Harrison and Thomas Warrington, while James Brennan scored for Rawdon. This win means Harlow retains their spot at the top of Division One of the WYAFL, with 21 points from eight games. They have two games in hand over second-placed Otley Town, who have 19 points.

Boroughbridge AFC

Boroughbridge continued their journey in the County Cup after a 1-0 win away at Huddersfield side Netherton First. Liam Spence scored the only goal of the game for the Bridge.

Women’s Football

Harrogate Town

Town exited the Adobe Women’s FA Cup on Sunday (October 5) after a 2-0 defeat away to Crewe. They will travel away to Ossett United next Sunday (October 12) for a North East Regional Womens Football League fixture.

Harrogate Railway

Harrogate Railway earned their first win of the season in spectacular fashion on Sunday, defeating bottom-placed Skipton 8-0 at home. Two goals from Caitlyn Atkin, Freya Stark and Paige Swales added to strikes from Jess Cooke and Philippa Waite. The win sees Railway rise to sixth place in the Premier Division of the West Riding County Women's League (WRCWL), with four points from their first four games.

Knaresborough Town

Knaresborough’s fixture at home to Wyke Wanderers on Sunday was postponed.

Boroughbridge

Boroughbridge did not have a game last week.

Rugby

Harrogate Rugby Club

Harrogate oversaw a 33-17 victory away at Cleckheaton on Saturday. Tries for Harrogate were scored by Amrit Sharma, Sam Brady x2, Will Pritchard, and Jacob Percival. Rory Macnab converted all but one of the Aces’ tries. Harrogate currently sit in fourth place in the Regional 1 North East League, with 17 points from four games. They are three points behind Heath, Ilkley, and Alnwick.

Ripon Rugby Club

Ripon were edged out by Bramley Phoenix on Saturday, losing by a narrow 18-13 scoreline. Ripon’s tries came from Allan Hudson, Henry Hanson and Harry Drane, while Drane also converted a penalty kick. Ripon have not had a fantastic start to the season, and sit in eighth in the Counties 2 Yorkshire League. With one win and two losses in three games, they have only five points.

Knaresborough Rugby Club

Knaresborough were on the receiving end of a 45-0 drubbing against York RI at the weekend. They have also had a poor start to the season, winning one and losing three in their first four games in the Counties 4 Yorkshire North League. They currently sit in fourth place out of eight, and find themselves nine points behind third-placed York RI.

Harrogate Pythons

Harrogate Pythons lost 29-38 at home to Wensleydale on Saturday. Tries came from Andrew MacKay, Rufus Palfreman, Ben Pryor and Jordan Payne. Pryor also made three conversions and converted a penalty. Harrogate Pythons currently sit in sixth place in the Counties 1 Yorkshire League, with seven points from three games. They have won one and lost two.

Hockey

Harrogate Hockey Club

Harrogate narrowly missed out in a Yorkshire derby, losing 6-4 away at City of York on Saturday. A hattrick for Charles Edmondson and one from Chris Horne was not enough to stop York, who saw goals from Alex Cockram x3, Alex Bell, and Tom Feasby x2. Harrogate currently sit in fifth place in the Yorkshire and North East Open Men's Premier Division, with seven points from four games. They are three points off the top spot.

Women’s Hockey

Harrogate Hockey Club

Harrogate were beaten 4-0 away at Doncaster on Saturday. Doncaster’s goals came from Lucy Hucknall x2, Abigail Oneill, and an anonymous player. Harrogate currently sit in 10th place in the Yorkshire and North East Women's Premier Division, with three points from four games. They are only three points above last-placed Durham University.

Netball

Ripon Rockets

Ripon Rockets beat Harrogate Phoenix 34-29 on Monday (September 29). They sit top of the NYNAL Senior Winter League, with 10 points from two games, having won both. They have a goal difference of 32.

Harrogate Phoenix

Harrogate Phoenix were on the receiving end of a 34-29 loss against Ripon Rockets on Monday. They currently sit in eighth in the NYNAL Senior Winter League, with two points from two games.

Claro Netball

Claro beat Bullets 56-43 on Monday, to put them in second place in the NYNAL Senior Winter League. Tied on points with first-placed Ripon Rockets, Claro are trailing by a goal difference of 1, with 31.