The traditional season-opener, the Serbian Super Cup between the winners of the domestic and Balkan Super Leagues, saw Red Star defeat Belgrade rivals Partizan 42-26 at the BASK Arena.

Red Star, under new Australian coach Trevor Smith started superbly, with three tries in the opening 20 minutes from Rajko Trifunovic, Stefan Nikolic and Denis Cengaj, all goaled by Vojislav Dedic to give them an 18-0 lead.

Partizan countered with tries from Miloš Đurkovic and prop Ronaldo Bitici, and when Dario Abidinovic crossed soon after the break, the lead was cut just to six points at 20-14.

From there the red and whites regained their dominance with four unanswered touchdowns, Australian import Jack O’Brien running the length of the field and then setting up another score from long range for Miloš Zogović which proved to be the game definer.

In the last quarter, Partizan rallied to claim the last two tries despite having Dušan Milutinović sent off, three other players in total being yellow-carded in a typically no-holds barred encounter between the sides.

 It was the second time Red Start have picked up the SRL Super Cup and the 13th victory in 20 matches in all competitions against their biggest rivals.

RED STAR 42
Miloš Zogovic, Rajko Trifunovic, Denis Cengaj, Petar Milanovic, Vuk Štrbac, Stefan Nikolic, Vojislav Dedic, Slobodan Milenkovic, Vladislav Dedic, Nenad Zujic, Aleksandar Dordevic, Stefan Nedeljkovic, Jack O’Brien Ilija Krstic, Adam Pavlovic, Sam Heron, Slobodan Manak

Tries: Rajko Trifunovic (’10), Stefan Nikolic (’19), Denis Cengaj (’21), Jack O’Brien (’45), Nenad Jujic (’52), Miloš Zogovic (’56), Vojislav Dedic (’59)

Goals: Vojislav Dedic 7/8

 Sin bin: Denis Cengaj

PARTIZAN 26
Mihajlo Ilic, Dario Abidinovic, David Jašari, Pavle Vojinovic, Leo Dodic, Vladimir Milutinovic, Aleksa Milkovic, Ronaldo Bitili, Dušan Milutinovic, Branko Carapic, Nikola Srbljanin, Vlado Kušic, Denis Bajrami, Darko Kovačevic, Mihajlo Stoiljkovic, Miloš Đurkovic.

 Tries: Miloš Đurkovic (’23), Ronaldo Bitili (’39), Dario Abidinovic (’42), Dušan Milutinovic (’72), Mihajlo Ilic (’80)

 Goals: David Jašari 3/5

 Sin bin: Leo Dodic, Vladimir Milutinovic

 Sent off: Dušan Milutinovic

 Half time: 20-10

 Referee: Radoslav Novakovic (Belgrade)