This time last year, New Orleans came to Glendale for the Emirates Airline Men’s Club Championships, and walked away with a DII National Championship. This year, their second side made the trip to Colorado, are now DIII National Champions.

The 2012 Emirates Airline USA Rugby DIII Men’s Club National Championship trophy was hoisted by NOLA after a hard fought battle with Philadelphia Whitemarsh.

MVP Andrew Quackenbos was unbeatable with his kicking for goal and his tactical kicking as well from the Fullback position. He had 15 points to his name, all penalties, at the half. Philly scored in the 9th minutes to take a brief 5-3 lead, and it looked like they would pile on more too. NOLA was camped out on their own five-meter line for what felt like an eternity. Possession would go back and forth, but ultimately NOLA was able to clear their line and relieve the pressure. Halftime score 15-8 NOLA.

Philly Whitemarsh made a comeback in the 61st minute when Louis Tulio gathered an errant ball and scooted in 30 meters for a try. It was 28-15 to NOLA at that point, and anybody’s game to play for.

New Orleans Wing Kevin Ndongi would put a quick end to that momentum however. Philly dropped the ensuing kickoff, and Ndongi was Johnny on-the-spot to collect the ball as soon as it hit the deck, and would race untouched in for another NOLA try.

Tulio would add one more for Philly, but it was too little too late as NOLA #8 Peter Bell put the nail in the coffin and gave the DIII club from New Orleans the 36-20 win.

New Orleans 36
Tries: E. Mackintosh, Ndongi, Bell
Cons: Quackenbos (3)
Pens: Quackenbos (5)

Philadelphia-Whitemarsh
Tries: Conway, Tulio (2)
Cons: Rosato
Pens: Rosato