The Serbian Military Academy sprung a surprise at the final of the fifth Belgrade Rugby League Student Competition on Thursday 28 June. The final, held at the Belgrade University Sport Center, saw the military involved in for the third time, but due to a large number of their more experienced players having begun careers in the armed forces, few expected them to get into the final, let alone win a competition that has been the exclusive domain of the Faculty of Philosophy.

The Military Academy led 6-4 at the break, then the lead twice changed hands as the Philosophers rose to the challenge in front of them. Despite being down to 12-men following Dusan Ristic’s yellow card the officers hit back to edge 16-14 in front. A desperate attack ended in a drooped ball which the Academy scooped up and scored on the counter attack to win the game 22-14.

Danijel Pesic, Serbian Military Academy cadet and rugby league team section leader was jubilant: “This is a great moment for Serbian Military Academy. After three years we won this competition. We showed that we have great potential, because this is more than 70% a new team with boys who started to train rugby league in October 2011, but all have some big experience in other sports, because they are all sportsman and it was easy to learn the basics of the rugby league.

“I hope that this will push development of the rugby league in the Serbian Army, particularly because we need huge support from the Serbian Army in 2013 when we plan to participate at the Armed Forces Rugby League World Cup in the UK.”