Utah Warriors Play Best Game Of Season In Win Over Dallas Jackals
Jun 22, 2024, 10:15 PM | Updated: Jun 24, 2024, 3:58 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Warriors broke a six-game losing streak with a big 50-46 win over the Dallas Jackals.
Warriors Defeat Dallas Jackals In Best Win Of Season For Utah
Utah hosted Dallas at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah, on Saturday, June 22.
The Jackals outplayed Utah through the first 25 minutes and also down the stretch. But, the Warriors’ string of tries before and after halftime was enough to secure another win before the end of the season.
It’s a win at home!!! #ForTheNation pic.twitter.com/KEdpyboo7g
— Utah Warriors Rugby (@utwarriorsrugby) June 23, 2024
First Half
Dallas got the ball first and immediately went to work.
The Jackals pushed down the pitch, got past the try-line, and made the conversion kick to take an early 7-0 lead.
Utah was just as quick to answer though. In the 6th minute, the Warriors scored a try of their own to make it 7-5. Joel Hodgson took the conversion kick with a shot at 100 points scored this season but missed to the left.
The @utwarriorsrugby respond immediately with Michael Manson’s 9th try of the season to give the home fans something to cheer about!
📺 @therugbynetwork | #UTAHvDAL | #MLR2024 pic.twitter.com/Jc9dWYVUmO
— Major League Rugby (@usmlr) June 23, 2024
The first-half offensive fireworks didnt stop there.
Dallas’ Benjamin Fry made a great play with the defense closing in on him which set up the third try of the match in the 11th minute.
The Jackals made the conversion kick once again to go up 14-5.
It continued to snowball from there. A penalty and third try for Dallas extended their lead to 19.
Especially on a six-game losing streak like the Warriors are, it would have been easy to roll over and accept the outcome. But Utah did the opposite.
28′
Manson to Makene to McClea. We love it when a plan comes together!
UT 19 – 24 DAL#ForTheNation | #UTAHvDAL pic.twitter.com/5m8GQTcMrY— Utah Warriors Rugby (@utwarriorsrugby) June 23, 2024
The Warriors scored two tries in a matter of five minutes. Each try gave the group more energy on both ends of the ball and Dallas couldn’t keep up.
After taking the lead with their fourth try in the first half, Kieran McClea scored what may end up being the try of the week in the MLR.
McClea forced a turnover deep in Utah’s half and ran the length of the field before diving across the line. The following conversion kick made it 33-24 in Utah’s favor.
The first half came to an end with the Warriors leading by nine.
HALFTIME
What a great game!*
*between the 25th and 40th minutes
UT 33 – 24 DAL#ForTheNation | #UTAHvDAL— Utah Warriors Rugby (@utwarriorsrugby) June 23, 2024
Second Half
Utah’s momentum continued through the break as the Warriors scored again just minutes into the half.
The Jackals started to look like a completely different team compared to the start of the first half. They were a step slower all over the field and Utah pushed forward with little to no resistance.
In the 56th minute, Michael Manson scored a hat trick on another highlight for Utah.
After maneuvering through the Dallas defense, Manson kicked the ball in front of the pack and chased it down to put the Warriors up 43-24.
56′
That isn’t a replay, Michael Manson has scored again! That’s a hat trick try!
UT 43 – 24 DAL#ForTheNation | #UTAHvDAL pic.twitter.com/qPXMwyBoY5— Utah Warriors Rugby (@utwarriorsrugby) June 23, 2024
Manson wasn’t done there though.
In the 65th minute, Manson found the in-goal area once again for four tries on the night and 50 total points for the Warriors.
In the 72nd minute, the Jackals showed some signs of life with a try to drop the lead to 16, 50-34.
After they broke the scoring drought, something clicked for Dallas. They punched in another try right before the 80th minute to make it a single-digit Utah lead.
The push from the Jackals came too late as Utah secured a big win over Dallas with one game left on the 2024 schedule.
Up next for the Utah Warriors
With the win, Utah improved to a 5-10-0 record this season.
The Warrior’s next game is at home against Rugby FC Los Angeles on Friday, June 28, at 8:30 p.m. (MT).
Last season, the Warriors posted a 10-6 record and narrowly missed the postseason as the fourth seed in the Western Conference.
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Chandler Holt is a co-host for the Jazz Notes podcast and a Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com, specializing in all things basketball and football. Follow Chandler on Twitter @ChandlerHoltKSL or on Threads @chandlerho1t.
