Partizan have picked up the first silverware in the club’s history, defeating holders Dorcol 42-22 in the final at the Makiš stadium, Belgrade.

The black and whites have dominated youth competitions in the last couple of seasons but pulled off a significant senior success in commanding fashion.

“We have been building towards this for a while,”  said Partizan coach Admir Hadic. “We came close two seasons ago, losing against the same side in the Grand Final. It took more maturity and soul searching until we got another chance and the guys didn’t want to let it slip again. It’s a big win for us, but we are planning more of the same.”

Dorcol, 22-10 behind at the break and never in front, almost staged a second half comeback but Hadic’s side showed great poise and concentration in the last 15 minutes, Partizan scoring three unanswered late tries to seal the biggest win in the club’s history.

Serbian international Vladimir Milutinovic and centre Nikola Srbljanin each posted a brace of tries for Partizan, Milutinovic claiming 14 points in total; substitute Paja Ševic crossing twice for the vanquished.

PARTIZAN 42
Pavle Vojinovic, Ronaldo Bitici, Vladimir Milutinovic, Nikola Srbljanin, Dragan Jankovic, Branko Carapic, David Jašari, Dario Abidinovic, Mihailo Ilic, Darko Kovacevic, Petar Kovac, Vlado Kušic, Pero Madjarevic, Kosta Stojkovic, Denis Bajrami, Velibor Karanovic, Dušan Milutinovic.

Tries: Vlado Kušic (1), Darko Karanovic (8), Vladimir Milutinovic (33, 73), Dragan Jankovic (36), Nikola Srbljanin (56, 67), Madjarevic (79).
Goals: David Jašari 2/5, Vladimir Milutinovic 3/3.

DORCOL 22
Andrej Mora, Miloš Avramovic, Boris Lazin, Relja Petrovic, Luka Bulajic, Miloš Milanko, Milan Dobanovic, Aleksa Radic, Stefan Vukanovic, Sergej Devetak, Ivan Ivanovic, Milan Aleksic, Stefan Nedeljkovic, Miloš Tasic, Paja Ševic, Stefan Milcic, Saša Mitrovic.

 Tries: Ivan Ivanovic (13), Paja Ševic (29, 42), Miloš Milanko (63).
 Goals: Stefan Nedeljkovic 3/4.