Utah Warriors drop season finale 31-24 to Los Angeles during 'Warrior Fest' celebration

SANDY — The Utah Warriors season finale at America First Field was billed as a "Warriors Fest" and a celebration of Utah's rugby history.

But it may have also been a microcosm of the Warriors' 2024 season.

Michael Manson's heroics couldn't undo a slow start; and poorly executed lineouts and key missed conversion kicks led to Utah ending the season with its 11th loss.

Manson had two tries as the Warriors fell to Rugby Football Club Los Angeles 31-24 Friday night in front of a franchise-record 10,906 fans at America First Field.

"There have been many, many challenges, and it would have been nice to finish on a high note," Warriors coach Greg Cooper said after the match while more than 10,000 fans stormed Real Salt Lake's home pitch in an attempt to form the "world's largest beach ball pit" after a "really disappointing" result.

"For me, last impressions can be lasting impressions," he added. "The occasion was a wonderful occasion, and I don't want to take anything away from it. Not as a coach, I was delighted by what I saw here tonight — and this will be great. I think the occasion will add to the development of rugby in Utah.

"I'm standing here disappointed as a coach with the result and the season, but I'm not as disappointed with all the work the Utah Warriors did this season, and it was wonderful to see that out there today."

Joe Mano, who also set up a try, scored in the eighth minute as the host Warriors (5-11, 35 points) couldn't keep pace with last-place Los Angeles (5-10, 32 points) en route to a 19-5 first-half deficit.

Manson pulled out a little magic on the wing, taking a pass from Caleb Makene to the middle of the try zone before Joel Hodgson cut the deficit to 19-12 on the eve of halftime.

Los Angeles held the Warriors down to open the second half, and Rory Van Vugt pushed the visitors ahead 26-12 with a conversion kick in the 63rd minute.

Makene pulled one back just three minutes later, taking a pass from Mano on the edge to pull the Warriors back within single digits, and Manson's second score cut the deficit to 26-24 in the 74th minute.

"He's had a great season. I think he's missed five games, and he's still leading in try scoring," Cooper said of Manson. "Having him on the field gives us a big edge. I thought at times tonight, we attacked very well — and it's always good having him out there. Normally, if you score four tries you win a game. So we've got to fix some things up."

Derek Adams dived across the try line in the 78th minute for another Los Angeles try to go up again, and Utah's season ended when it couldn't convert a lineout in LA territory in the final seconds of the match.

Friday's match wasn't just a regular-season finale, but a chance to celebrate the rugby culture in the state of Utah. At halftime, the Warriors honored college, club and high school teams across the state.

It's the same history that hangs on the wall of Utah's new training facility and headquarters in Draper, one that includes collegiate national championships at BYU and the University of Utah and the historic 20-time national titles held by Highland Rugby and legendary head coach Larry Gelwix.

Gelwix, 73, retired with a 419-10 rugby in 35 years coaching Highland, and will be inducted into the USA Rugby Foundation Hall of Fame later this year for his contributions to the game.

"I think this state deserves winning a championship. That's what we want," Cooper said. "I think we will get things right in the future on the field, because we know from off the field just how it can be."

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