AS part of their 150th anniversary celebrations Ilkley CC staged a game between their President's X1 and the MCC. The MCC batted first and declared after making 171-6 off 55 overs.

The MCC side included former Yeadon CC players Chris Farrell and Patrick Fordham.

Farrell, who also had experience with Otley and Halifax, is now well into the veteran category and did not bat or bowl in the match.

The MCC innings was opened by Oliver Hutton, grandson of the late Sir Leonard and son of former Yorkshire player Richard, who attended the game.

Hutton, a late replacement for broken finger victim James Dracup, top scored for the MCC with 45 while M Cousins made 27 and Patrick Fordham, the former captain of the Hong Kong international side and captain of current Bradford League leaders Bradford and Bingley, made 18 before becoming one of the two victims of last year's Ilkley captain Andy Bird, now a prison officer in Lancaster.

The MCC totalled 171-6 before declaring in a match interrupted by rain.

Ilkley knocked off the runs in 35.5 overs with two wickets to spare. Young opener Craig Rackham made 37 and fellow opener Duncan Brearley, now living in Shrewsbury, made 31 before being caught by wicketkeeper Fordham, who was a team mate of his in the Burley-in-Wharfedale junior sides.

Chris Quaife also made a useful contribution of 32 and current first team player Paul Mofftat made 30.

The match was watched by MCC member and current Yorkshire committeeman Geoff Cope, fellow Yorkshire comittee man Bob Appleyard, MCC committee member Phillip Hodson - who presented the Ilkley club with an MCC plaque - and Ilkley life members Lionel Roe, Brian Featherstone, Jim Scally and Mike Clegg and Ilkley President Peter Marshall.

The crowd had in their midst three exceptional bowlers. Roe was the last man to take 100 wickets in a season in the Airedale and Wharfedale League, Appleyard was the last man to take 200 wickets in a first-class season and Cope was on a hat-trick on his England Test debut.

MCC.- O Hutton c Bird b Moffat 45, A Lewis c J Henry b C Henry 3, N Fletcher b Bird 15, M Cousins c Cockcroft b Moffat 27, P Fordham b Bird 18, R Bolstridge b C Henry 18, R Simpson not out 8, N Levenson not out 1; x 36; ttl. 171-6 dec.

Did not bat: A Carrington, A Pope, C Farrell (capt).

Bowling: C Henry 15-4-46-2; D Fisher 6-2-8-0; N Cockcroft 14-6-25-0; A Bird 12-3-34-2; C Rackham 3-0-13-0; P Moffat 5-2-21-2.

President's X1.- C Rackham c Fletcher b Pope 37, D Brearley c Fordham b Levenson 31, R Jones lbw Levenson 11, P Moffat b Bolstridge 30, C Quaife c Simpson b Bolstridge 32, I Frost not out 18, A Bird lbw Carrington 0, C Henry b Carrington 2, N Cockcroft b Bolstridge 0, J Henry not out 4; x 7; ttl. 172-8.

Did not bat: D Fisher.

Bowling: A Carrington 10-0-54-2; R Simpson 7-1-16-0; A Pope 8-1-41-1; N Levenson 5-1-21-2; R Bolstridge 5.5-0-36-3.

The last event of the 150th anniversary will be a players' and friends re-union at the ground on Sunday at noon when all are welcome.