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HERRIMAN — A moment of magic from Michael Manson had the Utah Warriors moments away from a road win over Dallas.
But the Jackals had an ounce of magic left in the final seconds of Friday night's Major League Rugby match.
Replacement hook Tomas Bekerman scored off a 15-man maul in the final minute as the Jackals rallied for a 22-20 win over the Warriors, clinching Dallas' first win at Choctaw Stadium of the season in Arlington, Texas.
"We just believed in ourselves and our fans out here," Dallas' Vaughen Isaacs told The Rugby Network after the match. "It was nailbiting in the end. I think it was just about getting the ball in our corner. It was nail-biting, but the boys pulled through."
After trailing for more than an hour, Manson pulled Utah (2-4, 6 points) ahead in the 65th minute with a try from his own kick that put the Warriors up 20-17.
The @DallasJackals picked up their first home victory of #MLR2024 thanks to a Tomas Bekerman try at the death to defeat @utwarriorsrugby!
— Major League Rugby (@usmlr) April 13, 2024
Check out the match highlights. #MLR2024 | #DALvUTAHpic.twitter.com/wiFTxU6Dl1
Dallas (3-4, 7 points) struck first with a try and ensuing conversion just two minutes in as Nic Benn dotted it down to take a 7-0 lead. Utah pulled one back with a penalty kick, then took a 10-7 advantage through Mika Kruse's dash in the 14th minute.
But Tomas Malanos' try in the 30th minute lifted the Jackals to a 14-10 halftime lead.
After Dallas opened the second half with a try, Joel Hodgson's penalty conversion cut Utah's deficit to 17-13 in the 55th minute.
Manson seemed to score the go-ahead try in the 65th minute. But the back was ruled inches out to save the try and give Dallas a lineout and gave possession back to the Jackals.
But the 22-year-old wing from Invercargill, New Zealand, got another shot moments later, speeding over the try line and collecting his own kick to lift the Warriors a 20-17 lead in the 68th minute after Hodgson's conversion kick.
The @utwarriorsrugby have taken their second lead of the night thanks to a brilliant solo try from Michael Manson!
— Major League Rugby (@usmlr) April 13, 2024
📺 @therugbynetwork | #DALvUTAH | #MLR2024pic.twitter.com/dT1RNY8L87
Bekerman scored off the maul in the 80th minute — about 15 seconds before the end of regulation — to score the match-winner in the closing seconds of regulation on the Jackals' final possession.
"We defended the line-out very well tonight, but unfortunately, on that last one, we didn't," Warriors coach Greg Cooper said. "Crucial moments let us down…We just let them back into the game."
The Warriors are back on the road April 21 at San Diego. Kickoff from Snapdragon Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m. MDT on FS2.
Utah is back home April 26 to host Old Glory DC at Zions Bank Stadium.
