HAVING upset the apple cart with three wins to reach the semi-finals of the English Schools' Plate, St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College's under-18 boys' team have repeated the dose at Bedford Modern School to qualify for the national finals.

In what is a continuing story of the underdog in terms of resources, the Bede's team will travel to Oundle School for the deciders on Sunday, March 13.

It is the third year in succession that the Heaton school have reached this stage, and they did so this time with victories over St Paul's, London (3-1), London Oratory (7-6) and hosts Bedford Modern (4-3).

First up were St Paul's, who St Bede's lost to in the 2014 finals but drew with them last year.

Matthew McLoughlin put the Bradford visitors ahead in the first half, restricting St Paul's to pot-shots, but St Bede's needed goalkeeper Cameron 'The Cat' Fairbairn to be in top form in the second half, and he pulled off a number of fantastic saves.

Captain Benn Adams marshalled the defence of Jack Sheehan and Sam Rocchio well, while Daniel Colehan spearheaded the counter-attacks, scoring one and giving Dominic Walker an assist.

Growing in confidence, St Bede's should have handled London Oratory comfortably, and took a 2-0 lead via Simon 'Pit Man' McDermott, but then switched off and trailed 3-2.

In a switchback contest, a 4-3 half-time lead for St Bede's became a 6-4 deficit with just over two minutes left.

However, St Bede's were then inspired, with every player stepping up three or four gears, and none more so than their man of the tournament Colehan, who scored four goals, including the winner, to again book a place in the finals.

Celebrations had to be put on hold, however, as St Bede's were straight back into the water to face Bedford Modern, Luke Sutcliffe coming in to make his debut for the Bradford school, who were dead on their feet.

He was positive on the ball, and with Lewis Lunn in his favoured role up front, hopes were high.

However, although Lunn scored, St Bede's were 3-1 down at half-time, but in typical fashion, they then took the game by the scruff of the neck and turned it round to score the remaining three goals, as well as representing the city well throughout the day via their attitude and behaviour.