The derby definitely lived up to expectations
Last week, the first game out of three between the two rivals in the Serbian Championship was played. Every game is very important because the team that wins the points will be in the pole position to win the cup. Partizan was a better team and in the end celebrated with a score of 17-12. The match was very demanding, competitive and played at a high pace, which we do not often see on our fields. We can freely say that both teams are in good condition and we can hardly wait for the continuation of the competition.
Rad was better in the first part of the match
A high rhythm was seen at the beginning of the match, even astonishingly high. In the first half of the match, Partizan demonstrated incredible discipline in defense, where it allowed the opponent very little room for improvement. The granite defense, which was led by an excellent melee, managed not only to stop Rad, but also to create situations for scoring from the defense. We saw such a case in 4. the minute Đorđe Preradojevic missed the penalty kick. Only two minutes later, the Partizan defense created a chance that Preradojevic did not miss for 3-0. Black and whites continued in the same rhythm in the 17th. minute discipline in defense brought another penalty kick that Preradojevic turned into a 6-0 lead.
Then there was a total turnaround, as if a minus was needed to get Rad going. The builders consolidated the ranks and played at a high level. The defense that adorned Partizan at the beginning of the game failed. He took advantage of this in the 25th. minute when Nikola Stanković who received the ball on the edge of the opponent’s 22 meters and scored an essay in a quick and unstoppable breakthrough. Uroš Babić secure conversation kick for 7-6. Rad used the momentum and continued with the pressure. Construction’s scrum narrowed the defense of Partizan with excellent phases, which was used by the players of the guest line. The ball quickly came from the cancer deep in Partizan’s 22 meters to Stanković, who employs Lazar Totomir with a precise pass, which increases the advantage to 12-6.
Trench battle, turnaround and longer Partizan bench
The second part of the match also started at a high pace. In 57. minute of the match, Partizan quickly put pressure on Rad’s 22 meters. The ball came to Aleksandar Krstić, who scored an essay and reduced it to 12-11. And then followed a period of play for rugby connoisseurs, great rhythm on both sides, with strong defenses. Of course, there was drama at the end of the match, so it is better to be a part of the Championship derby. Untill 74. minute, Rad had the advantage, and then Preradojević turned the result from the penalty to 14-12. Rad tried to regain the lead by the end of the match, but without success. Igor Dejanović from the drop in the 79th put an end to the game. minut.
Match information:
Date: 04.04.2022.
Kickoff: 16:30h
Match replay: Sportuzivo
Referee: Mihailo Marjanović
Asistant referee: Aleksandar Lelik
Asistant referee: Relja Bulajić
Match commissaire: Stevan Ilijašević
Serbian Championship Find out more
Squads
RK Partizan: Milos Joksimovic, Ivan Spasenovic, Djordje Preradojevic 9, Radovan Stanic, Aleksandar Krstic 5, Nikola Nenadovic, Vincent Fouert, Stefan Djordjevic, Borislav Radic, Aljosa Avramovic, Milos Tamburic, Stefan Simovic, Vladimir Dejanovic, Velibor Sreckovic, Igor Dejanovic 3 , Ivan Nicic, Vukasin Medic, Vid Pejovic, Sergej Devetak, Uros Popovic, Vuk Boskovic, Vasilije Krstic
RK Rad: Vladimir Djukic, Milan Trujkic, Predrag Vranes, Branimir Petrovic, Vojin Karanovic, Relja Pecanac, Marko Ristic, Alen Cosovic, Srdjan Bozic, Nikola Stankovic 5, Lazar Tatomir 5, Uros Joncic, Nemanja Stosic, Nikola Stasic, Uros Babic 2, Stevan Nikolic , Marko Kapor.
Four items that impressed us
Discipline, discipline and discipline
In the last few games between these two rivals, the team that was more disciplined won. Discipline returns the team to focus on what is important in the game. At the beginning of the match, Partizan was disciplined, the result came. In the second half of the first half, Rad was the one who was focused and disciplined. Rad maintained a high level of discipline even after the annulled try, so they soon achieved new ones. In the second half, the concentration of both teams dropped, due to the lack of fitness and strength. This time, Partizan used the chances, but it would not be a surprise if it was the other way around.
Young Rad trio at high level
It is always interesting to see the integration of young talents into the senior team. Nikola Stanković is no longer a surprise and a potential, he is definitely the first violin in the Rada line, he is absolutely suited to the call of the opener or the center, maybe he would be more deadly in the center because he would have more room for penetration. He ideally used the missmatch against Aljoša Avramović. Relja Pećanac once again proved his class, excellent in both parts of the field, both in defense and attack. In statics, he proved to be a safe option in the lineout. He also liked the position of flanker, but we believe that he is the original lock. The discovery of this season, at least at the beginning of it, is Lazar Tatomir. Currently leading the list of scorers of the Serbian Championship, he stands out with his incredible physical predispositions and speed. Our impression is that he is still not aware of his strength and his possibilities in practice. Углавном ми га видимо као огроман потенцијал репрезентативног калибра.
The ĐorđePreradojevic Factor
The player of the match in the author’s opinion. To follow Preradojevic’s game, you have to be present at the match, because the camera does not record everything. Before the end of the game, he was replaced and he played on the prop position. That is, in the open game, he played as a third line player, when Partizan defended from the opposing half of the field, he played lateral defense where he retreated into the field like a third line player, grabbing shots without error and launching counter-attacks. He took part in all the static elements, was a failure in defense, had breakthroughs in attack. Scored 9 points from penalties. You could see the amount of effort at half time, when the visibly exhausted Preradojević had to rest for a moment longer. We wanted to write a great part of the slanted Preradojevic, and then we remembered that he was born at 1995. year and that by age he can in no way be experienced. But he showed the game at the level of serious players from the 6 nation.
Partizan’s longer bench and Aljoša Avramović
A longer bench always gives it an advantage, especially in sports such as rugby. Partizan had more players he could count on, in a demanding game like this, in the end it definitely brought an advantage. The fresh player effect makes a difference. That is why we wondered why Aljoša Avramović started the game at the flyhalf. A player who was absolutely dominant in space and open play last year, a player who needs space. However, he was placed on the opener, where he had Stanković across the road, who is almost two meters and over 90 kilos. We are convinced that Avramović was in external positions, in order to be more effective and efficient, because if he was there, he would have smiled against Rad’s wings, which are over 190 centimeters high
