BOLTON School aim to make it third time lucky in their bid to lift the prestigious Boodle and Dunthorne Cup tonight.

Bolton lost in the final of the top independent schools competition in 1997 and 1998 and are determined to go one better tonight.

They face Bradfield College in Northampton, kick off 7.30pm, with their confidence boosted by impressive recent form.

They are enjoying one of their most successful seasons for years, losing only once in their last 28 games and scoring more than 120 goals.

Bolton School has a strong tradition in independent schools and North West schools football.

In the last 10 years, as well as reaching their two previous Boodle and Dunthorne Cup finals they have also figured in four of the last five ISFA six-a-side finals, winning this season and in 1999.

They also won the Greater Manchester County Cup in 1997 and 1998, following the latter triumph with reaching the semi-final of the English Schools competition.

They have been in rampant form this season with victory in the six-a-sides competition in September followed by a record Boodle and Dunthorne scoreline against a weakened Dover College. They went on to win 5-0 at home against King's Chester before three away ties produced a 4-1 win at Repton, a 3-1 victory over holders Brentwood and a 5-0 semi-final success at Charterhouse.

Players Bradfield College will have to be wary of are Nick Pantelides, Chas Parry and David Roberts who have each scored more than 20 goals this season.

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Since 1993 football at the school has been under the guidance of Chris Rigby who succeeded John Taylor as Master-in-Charge who had held the post since 1972. He is assisted with the First Eleven for the first time this season by Oxford Blue, Kevin Knibbs. In addition the school is very fortunate to be able to draw upon the experience of ex-England and Manchester United player Mike

Duxbury who has been a member of the Sports Department since 1996.

The school has frequently had a strong input to the Independent Schools representative sides. John Dunning and Richard

Washington both went on to play for Oxford University, the latter as captain, whilst Martin Boden captained Cambridge univeristy.

More recently Richard Sellars, Craig Jolley, Tom Whittaker and Tim Entwistle have played for ISFA and this season six of the

current side are representing ISFA - Nick Pantelides, Paul Holowaty, Neil Price and Chas Parry in the Under 19's and Sean

McAllister and Paul Rainford in the Under 16's. Away from the football field Matthew Pimblett has represnted Great Britain at water polo and Geoff Earle has played alongside him at English Schools Under 16 level. Daniel Jones and Paul Rainford play cricket for Lancashire at youth level.

Bolton School : Team for B & D Final

1 Daniel Jones

2 John Burrows

3 Matthew Pimblett

4 Paul Rainford

5 Neil Price

6 Paul Holowaty

7 Nick Pantelides (captain)

8 Sean McAllister

9 Chas Parry

10 David Roberts

11 Sam Pepper

12 Adam Marshall

14 Jon Finlay

15 James Kinsler

16 John Abbott

17 Geoff Earle

Mater-in-Charge : Chris Rigby, Kevin Knibbs