Arizona HS League Tightens Up

Rugby Arizona is in full swing and the competition has become very competitive.

Tempe and East Valley merged, competing as Tempe, and that has strengthened the schedule as 14 teams compete; every single team has won at least one game, and after Blackbirds lost to Tempe this past weekend, only Red Mountain is undefeated.

Desert Vista claimed a tough 32-31 win over Old Pueblo in Arizona and inched closer to the top four. Desert Vista is improving every week, said Coach Roger Tushingham, and with several players returning from injury, the team’s forwards are starting to come together.

Captain and scrumhalf Justin Smith is back from injury and playing well, while lock/flanker Kyle Bohlen earned recognition as a Gamebreaker from GRR this week.

No. 8 Adriaan van Niekerk, who moved to Arizona from South Africa this winer, is a welcome addition, while Noah Lohkamp has moved from the back row to tighthead prop and secure the scrum.

Red Mountain remains the dominant team, but Tempe has looked very strong. Meanwhile, Salpoint Catholic HS, a single-school team coached by Nicole Matyas (father of new Eagles cap Ryan), is 2-3 after having to forfeit an early game. That forfeit cost Salpointe some points, which is a shame, as they are starting to click. Salpointe won their first game of the season over Chandler United, and are now 2-3 because the league counts the fixtures against East Valley as forfeits.