Bell Multicultural defeated Landon 20-13 this past weekend to win the MAVRC Division II championship in the Maryland/DC area.

Both teams came into the matchup undefeated, with Landon at 5-0-1 and Bell at 4-0-2. The teams had played late in the regular season and that game ended in a tie.

Bell Multicultural came out firing on all cylinders by scoring two unconverted tries in the first 20 minutes. Flyhalf Hunter Echols kept the Landon backline on their heels with precision kicking that pinned Landon deep in their own territory much of the half.  Landon fought back with some stellar halfback play, and help from Bell committing penalties inside their 22, and the result was two Landon penalties to make the score 10-6 for Bell at halftime.

The second half proved to be as exciting as the first. Landon played a determined and aggressive game and after a long period of pressure scored their first try to lead 13-10.

But after that, the Bell forwards took control, and after a yellow card to a Landon flanker, they had the run of play. Bell scored two more tries during the man advantage, and held on 20-13.

The Metro Area Varsity Rugby Conference Division 2 was created three years ago to give lower tiered HS rugby teams a chance to compete for a championship outside the dominance of Gonzaga, Georgetown Prep and Perry Street Prep.  The schools that make up MAVRC Division 2 include:

Bell Muticultural (DC)

Landon (Md)

The Heights (Md)

TC Williams (Va)

Model Secondary School for the Deaf (DC)

Eleanor Roosevelt (Md)

Bell Muticultural is a three-year-old team that is funded and coached by grassroots organization, Washington DC Youth Rugby.  Bell entered league play last year.

This was Landon's third year in a row in the MAVRC DII championship game. At a school where lacrosse is the big draw, Landon manages to field a good team of tough athletes who play a disciplined and aggressive style of rugby especially in the backline.  Despite high turnover each graduation, Landon manages to field a competitive team every season.