In 2022, the club played the following:
Home matches
| Dales | Thursday 5th May |
| Bishop Monkton | Thursday 30th June |
| Backworth | Thursday 7th July |
| Ben Rhydding | Thursday 22nd September |
Away matches
| Bishop Monkton | Tuesday 9th August |
| Dales | Thursday 18th August |
| Ben Rhydding | Friday 26th August. Postponed from 19th July |
| Backworth | Tuesday 13th September. Postponed from 7th September |
Our first friendly match was played against Dales on 5th May on 2 short lawns and lawn 3. We played in teams of six and our newest recruit, Michael Ring, gamely volunteered to take part. The weather was cool but dry and the result was win for Ripon Spa.
Our second friendly match was played against Bishop Monkton on 30th June . Early on that morning, John Feeny of Bishop Monkton rang to say two of his team were in A&E and wouldn’t be able to come. Happily, Rosemary and Eric nobly agreed to play for BM and a fun day was had by all. Kerry deserves a special mention, as she was due to help with the timing. In the event, she played for Bishop Monkton in the first match, then undertook timing duties, played again for Bishop Monkton and finally played in Andrea’s place for Ripon. Ripon came out winners by 107 hoops to 96.
Our third friendly, also at home, was against Backworth. Robert was especially pleased how the whole team didn’t complain having to play with only 5. It’s a lot of hard work with 7 games of playing both balls. The score was close at lunch; Ripon 55 Backworth 63, but in the afternoon, perhaps the heat got to us. Maybe we should have removed our socks and shoes too. The final score was Ripon 87 to Backworth’s 105, although 4 of the last games were drawn.
Robert is looking forward to taking a full team to Backworth for the return match.
Our next friendly was on Tuesday 9th August at Bishop Monkton. The Ripon team enjoyed the lawns, the games, the hospitality, especially the cakes, but, perhaps, not the heat. We fielded two members who had not played at an away match before and they both had a lovely time. The final score was Ripon 119 to Bishop Monkton’s 112.
Our sixth friendly was on Thursday 18th August at Bedale, when the weather was turning cool. The Ripon team enjoyed the games, the hospitality and, of course,the cakes. The final score was Ripon 140 to Bedale’s 137 – a narrowing gap.
Our next friendly was on Friday 26th August at Ben Rhydding, where the weather started hot and then cooled slightly. The Ripon team enjoyed trying to master the lawns. They also enjoyed games, the hospitality and the cakes. We fielded two members who had not played there before and they both had a lovely time. The final score was Ripon 117 to Ben Rhydding’s 93. Robert is looking forward to hosting Ben Rhydding on 22nd September
Our penultimate friendly was on Tuesday 13th September at Backworth, where the weather was glorious all day. In the event, we could not muster a full team of eight, so were very pleased to be supported by Helen and Maureen ‘on loan’ from Backworth. It is fair to say that we took some time to adjust to the splendid lawns. We enjoyed the company, the serenity and the hospitality, but still manged to lose 158 hoops to 105. One to go!
Our final friendly was on Thursday 22nd September against Ben Rhydding at home, where the weather was starting to feel autumnal, which coincided with our use of the autumn lawns. There were unfamiliar bumps and bends which caused some spectacular hoop running as well as some frustrating curving away at the last moment. Quote of the day “The lawn giveth and the lawn taketh away”. It seems entirely apt. The final hoop scores were 155 to Ripon Spa and 151 to Ben Rhydding.
