Coach Paul Ponton takes a Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, side to the semi-finals of the Daily Mail Cup Under-18 against Campion (Hornchurch) tomorrow believing they are better than the team who lost the 1994 final. Their captain seven years ago was Leicester Tigers' former Blaydon player Paul Gustard, who watched Newcastle defeat Oakham School 32-22 in their quarter-final tie and was impressed by a side who now feature in Schoolsnet's Road to Twickenham series.

Durham School have also reached the semi-finals, to be held at Castlecroft, and will face Pangbourne College from Reading tomorrow.

Mr Ponton said: "I would say this is the best team through the school since before 1994. Paul Gustard was of that opinion as well, but last year's team was better than 94 and were unlucky to go out so early."

QEGS Wakefield suffered a hefty defeat by RGS before going on to become Colston's Collegiate School's sixth consecutive finals day victims at Twickenham.

Newcastle, however, were undone in the early rounds by Yarm.

The northern rugby schools circuit has a fearsome reputation and Mr Ponton believes there are 25 players capable of contributing at first team level, where the school is unbeaten in nearly 20 matches.

Similarly, Campion's Chris Jones insists as many players have abilities worthy of consideration, which makes for a classic encounter.

Mr Ponton said: "The most significant change since the beginning of the season has been at half-back which has completely changed. The second team scrum-half has also forced his way into the first team."

Alongside them is Ben Simpson, of England Under-16 calibre, who has also fought his way into team contention.

Following a training session earlier in the week, Mr Ponton added: "We've got 15 good players.

If they want to play it up front we will do that. If they want to play it wide we will do that too.

"We're quite confident we can score, it is how we can limit them defensively."

If England squad selection is any benchmark, Newcastle may have the edge, although Campion beat in the quarter-finals a side with two international squad members named among their number from St Peter's Gloucester.

"Unfortunately all of our guys through to the final selection got injured," complained Mr Ponton.

But hooker Matt Thompson has been named by the ERFSU in the September 1 squad and loose head Simon Knowles was also named for an England squad, the January 1 younger side. Captain Jonny O'Malley made the final trial stage and Mr Ponton was also disappointed an "outstanding" centre did not make it further up the ladder.

Campion, meanwhile, saw fly-half Michael Whitehead, David Hiles and John Ruxton miss out after final trials. They also had two Under-16 trialists.

As a school, RGS are also "pretty hot" when it comes to gymnastics, Mr Ponton revealed, along with being six times national schools athletics champions and twice cross-country title winners in the late 80s and early 90s.

With that in mind, sixth-former Hunter and year nine pupil Kieren Flannery will be particularly disappointed to miss out on adding to past school glories with the cancellation of this weekend's national schools cross-country championships while the rugby team is at Castlecroft, Wolverhampton, fighting for a place in the Daily Mail final.

On top of that, Northumberland Schools has become one of the few associations to be selected to take part in the mini-marathon in April, part of the Flora London marathon.

Tennis and basketball have also been strengths, along with fencing and, most recently, squash, in which the school will have representatives in the national finals this year at 15-year-old age-group