North American Rugby Database

Report

The Dallas Jackals host the Utah Warriors in a Western Conference clash at Choctaw Stadium.

The Jackals came into this game having never defeated the Utah Warriors in 4 previous meetings, and were on the wrong end of some close games in teh 2024 season up to this point. They were looking for their first home victory of the 2024 campaign over a struggling Warriors side.

The hosts led 14-10 at the half time break, a familiar situation as they had led at HT in their previous two games and come away with 2 losses. They slotted a penalty to extend their lead before the Warriors pulled it back to 17-13 through the boot of Joel Hodgson before an expertly finished Michael Manson try pushed them into the lead. Hodgson added the 2 to give the guests a 17-20 lead in the closing stages.

The Jackals were awarded a penalty with maybe a minute remaining and, not content to draw, kicked for the corner. Dallas’ fearsome maul had resulted in 5 tries the previous week and they felt it could deliver again, a feeling that was proved correct as replacement hooker Tomas Bekerman trundled over to secure the victory in front of a home crowd. The conversion was missed but it made no difference, the hosts emerged as 22-20 victors to really cement their place in the Top 4 in the West.