Durham School coach Paul Gerrard has been in the hunt for Daily Mail Schools Cup success for long enough to know that the only message worth bothering with is the need for the team to deliver its best form on the day.

Ahead of today's U-18 final with St Peter's of Gloucester, Gerrard admitted: "When we were at Twickenham in 2001 and went down 18-0 to Campion, we under performed.

"We didn't play as well as we could and that was disappointing.

"We have got to concentrate on delivering on the day what we are capable of.

"I know we'll give 100 per cent effort - that's not in question. But what we have to do is have the right direction, make the right decisions, do the right things in the right areas.

"That's the message from our previous visit. We have to focus on what we do.

"We won't be worrying about St Peter's. We've seen them in action in the semis and they are a very good side - good forwards, fast backs and good organisation.

"But we're not a side that can look at the opposition and think about adapting our game.

"We know what we can do and the qualities that have got us this far and that is what we want to produce in the final."

If focusing minds is the challenge facing Gerrard, he has an interesting way of achieving his objective.

An early morning session on the beach was the sort of preparation once favoured by Grand National hero Red Rum and trainer Ginger McCain, but for Gerrard's charges Southport was replaced by South Shields and a bracing early morning session last week.

"I was a bit concerned after I had set it up that the weather might be awful, but we got away with it and had a really good run out," says Gerrard.

"We were more traditional the following day when we had a session at Newcastle Falcons with two of their Academy coaches, John Fletcher and Ian Peel.

"It was also good for the lads to have a couple of old boys - Geoff Parling and Jason Smithson - on hand and taking an interest.

"Jason was in the 2001 team and I'm sure it gives the lads a boost to see former players showing an interest."

The only downside to the preparations has been the loss of prop Craig Hooper with a damaged hamstring suffered in training.

"He's devastated as this would have been his last game before leaving the school and we're all disappointed for him," said Gerrard.