YOUTH beat experience in a special anniversary match between Bolton School’s current and former water polo players...but only just.

The young pupils pipped the alumni side 11-10 in what was the first ever water polo match played at the Jason Kenny Centre on Bolton One.

It was organised as part of a two-part celebration, marking 100 years since Lord Leverhulme brought together Bolton Grammar School for Boys and Bolton High School for Girls on one site in Chorley New Road and 500 years since the boys’ school was founded.

In recent times, Bolton School has become renowned as a centre of excellence for water polo.

Its current side boasts a number of junior internationals, including Tom Prayle, Lewis Daly, Aaron Winstanley and James Barker, while the Old Boys’ team included full internationals Simon Baker, Ed Grundy, Andy Crawford and Kate Teasdale.

Trevor Pledger, part of the school’s water polo coaching team, said: “We felt the occasion was fitting to go to such a high-class facility and it was a fantastic game.

“It was great to see Simon Baker, who was our first junior international from the school, and to see him play against those in the current ranks.

“The youngest person in the pool was 15 and the oldest was 39 and there was a real good mix as one of our three girl internationals Kate Teasdale played.

“We have also had Sarah Pimblett and Emily Ray, who represented the school internationally and the interesting thing is their brothers were in action too.”

The school continues to build on its reputation for producing top water polo talent.

The under-14s, u16s and u18s sides in the school’s Boys’ Division all won titles in the English Schools Championships this year.

Mr Pledger added: “We have had some great national league players. Andy Crawford was in goal for Great Britain and Ed Grundy won bronze at the Commonwealth Games.

“Our school teams have done tremendously well and it shows our strength in depth.

“The last time we had teams winning the national championships was when some of these older players were here and look at the success they have had.

“It makes you think they could go one better in years to come.

“Eight of our old boys have gone on to do well in the British First Division and in some ways Bolton School could field their own team and hold their own.”

The match was such a success that Mr Pledger says there are now plans to make it a regular event.

“There was only a goal in it and the old boys had a late chance they could not convert,” he said.

“It was a great success and they want to make it a regular thing and fight out for a cup again every year.

"There was so much disappointment from those who could not make it, such as the Great Britain captain Ed Grundy, who was in Australia. Hopefully they will be able to return for the next game."

Four of Bolton School’s young players – Sam Richards, Daly, Winstanley, all aged 18, and Prayle, 17 –are currently on tour with England in Malta.

They were chosen by the English School Swimming Association (ESSA) for a squad of 16 senior boys to take part in the Exiles International Invitation Tournament. No other school has more than one boy in the squad.

Bolton School coach Andy McGinty has also travelled with the team.

Matches are being played at the National Aquatics Stadium in Sliema against two South African teams, the national champions of Netherlands and a Malta representative side.

London 2012 Olympian Sean King will coach the youngsters alongside McGinty.

“We imagine the South African sides to be very strong and physical, while the Dutch team are national champions, so they will also be strong,” said King, before leaving for Malta.

“The Malta team will be of a similar standard to ourselves, but we’ll be expecting tough games from all the sides and this tournament will provide great competition for us.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the players and it will give them great experience of playing international water polo and will ultimately benefit them and the teams they go on to represent, including the GB team.”

The ESSA team, captained by Daly, were due to take part in a series of warm-up games against local sides in traditional sea pitches before the four-day tournament began on Sunday.

Malta’s national water polo Leagues have been suspended during the tournament, which is expected to be played in front of bumper crowds.