Coach Danny Lee commented on the team’s response to the delay, “We just had to control the controllables. Once we told the boys the definitive time for kickoff, we had a plan ready to go. In terms of game plan, we had to be a little bit more direct, and we had to kick and adapt quickly.”

NOLA Gold set the tone early, taking an initial 3-0 lead thanks to a steady penalty kick from Dorian Jones. Though Seattle answered quickly with a try to make it 7-3, the Gold launched into a dominant scoring stretch. Isaac Te Tamaki powered across the try line to ignite the offense, followed by back-to-back tries from the relentless Jonah Mau’u. Jones continued to add points from the tee, stretching the Gold’s lead to 27-7.

Just before halftime, the Seawolves found a breakthrough and scored at the buzzer, narrowing the margin to 27-14. However, NOLA emerged from the locker room with purpose. Xavier Mignot wasted no time reestablishing momentum with a try that pushed the lead to 34-14.

Seattle fought back with intensity, capitalizing on back-to-back tries to bring the score to 34-24. But NOLA responded with composure, as Jones added another penalty to keep the visitors at bay, 37-24.

The closing stages of the match saw both teams exchanging blows. Seattle’s try was met by a decisive moment from Joe Taufete’e, who muscled through defenders for a critical score. Luke Campbell’s conversion extended the lead to 44-29. Though Seattle scored one final try at the buzzer, it wasn’t enough.

With a final score of 44-36, NOLA Gold walks away with a crucial five-point win in front of a roaring home crowd and strengthens its postseason hopes with a firm grip on 3rd place in the East.

Mark your calendars because our next clash takes us on the road as we face off against the San Diego Legion on May 4th at 4:00 PM CT.

Tickets for the game, including ticket packages and individual match-day tickets, are available now. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 504-507-8429 (504-50-RUGBY) or visiting nolagoldrugby.com. Matchday tickets start at just $25.

Due to the weather delays, the Louisiana High School State Championship between Brother Martin and Jesuit has been postponed to Wednesday, April 30th, 6:00 PM CT at the Shrine on Airline. The match will feature free parking, open concessions, $5 tickets for new attendees, complimentary tickets for those who had tickets to the original date, and free access for NOLA Gold season ticket holders, making it a true community celebration. Stay tuned to @nolagoldrugby and our channels for more updates as they become available.