Rugby has a habit of injecting some humility into life and certainly Ahwatukee got a dose of it a week after a big win.

The Arizona club had defeated the Las Vegas Blackhawks last week, and looked in position to build on their solid start against the Tucson Blackbirds this week. However, the Blackbirds had other ideas, and came back from a 24-5 deficit to defeat Ahwatukee 41-34 in Arizona league action.

“It was a game of two halves,” said Ahwatukee Head Coach Roger Tushingham. “Whatever adjustments [Tucson Head Coach] Tim Pappas made at halftime were very effective. All credit to Tim and his team.”

“We were too bunched up,” said Pappas of his team’s first-half performance.”We needed to get deeper and wider, and basically it was adjusting our spacing that made the difference.”

There were other factors, especially competing harder at the ruck, that helped the Blackbirds come back. They scored two tries in the first five minutes of the second half, and then siezed the momentum.

The Blackbirds were led by Harlie Muniz, normally a flanker, he was moved to prop and was, as Pappas put it, “dynamite.”

Wing Kyle Mooney and center Jordan Ruiz were exciting on attack.

“We feel like we’re improving a little bit every year,” said Pappas. “We think we can compete in this league.”

Ahwatukee faces another tough game next week in Red Mountain. Certainly the Blackbirds will be looking to chase Red Mountain, as well.