St Paul's Barnes U15s will go one step further than coach Richard Girvan when they make it onto the pitch in tomorrow's Daily Mail Schools U15 Cup final at Twickenham tomorrow (Wednesday, 12.15pm), writes Simon Mills.

Girvan played rugby league for Ireland and was a matchwinning loose-forward for Cambridge in the 13-man code's Varsity Match.

He didn't make it off the bench in rugby union at Twickenham against Oxford in 2003, where he understudied victorious Light Blues skipper Duncan Blaikie.

But he is drawing on his Cambridge connections to help St Paul's - who pulled off an outstanding 27-7 semi-final win against the Bishop of Hereford's School - prepare to face Lymm High School next Wednesday (March 28).

"Twickenham's a big pitch for an under-15 team to play on," said Girvan.

"We're going to Cambridge to prepare this weekend, staying at Girton College and we're fortunate enough to have been allowed to have a run out at Grange Road to help us prepare.

"That's another large playing surface which will be in good condition and it should be a good precursor for Wednesday.

"We like to move the ball wide at pace and you could see us go from one side of the field to the other to score in the semi-final.

"Our third try in that game sums up what we try to achieve in terms of handling when our tight-head prop Ben Lucas was able to throw a double-miss pass that got the move going."

St Paul's showed just how much they enjoy the wide open spaces that give them the chance to handle the ball when running in five tries in the semi-final at RFU Castlecroft in the West Midlands.

Wing Tom Rebuffa scored twice and centres Ben Macdonald, George Inglis and replacement Michael Bolton also touched down with fly-half Nico Wilson adding a conversion.

Standing in their way are Lymm, though, who shut down fancied opponents Wellington College to win the other semi-final 19-6.

"They're very well organised in defence and never allowed Wellington to get any decent second or third phase ball," added Girvan.

"We'd like to think that if we can put some phases together we might be able to break them down."

The stars of the show this season for St Paul's - who were the beaten finalists at this age group in 2005 - have been athletic number eight Rupert Cowan and fly-half Willson, who distributes with a touch of class and kicks at goal and for position.

Girvan focuses on developing individual skill levels and is particularly pleased with the progress made by pacy outside centre George Inglis, a B team player last year who has scored in every round but one this season.