Sixty years ago in Paracin, at the FK Jedinstvo stadium, Partizan defeated Radnicki 21-11 in the first game of rugby league in Serbia. Seven of the players who faced each other on 25th April 1954 were present and guests of honour when the sides met again this weekend at the same venue, on the same day.
Skoknic Miodrag, Arsenijevic Vlasta, Conkić Predrag represented Partisan that day and Tomanovic Budimir Tambe, Petar Marjanovic, Jovicic Djordje and Puzic Stevan, wore the kit of Radnicki. Then they travelled by train and after the match a dance was organized in a high school. This time the match up, watched by over 500 fans, saw over 30 children from the youth section of the OFK Paracin club put on a pre-match demonstration and then Partisan repeated their inaugural success, this time 32-20.
The sides were level 10-all at the break, Radniki’s tries from Trifunovic and Jovanovic, Zogovic with a goal; Partizan replying through Stanisic and Cirković, Jasari with the extras. Jankovic and Cirković with his second extended the Partizan lead before the hour, Djuric replying; Jankovic with his double and Ilic for the victors sandwiching a Radniki touchdown from Kostandinovic. After the game, which was broadcast via livestream on the internet, the players of both sides were presented to the delighted veterans.