League Weekend: Novi Beograd Leads the Way in the Regional League, Radnički Following

This weekend Novi Beograd continued their streak of victories in all competitions this season.

The Serbian champions dominated the fifth round of the Regional League by convincingly defeating Crvena zvezda 14:6. In a high-scoring match with 30 goals, Radnički also secured a resounding triumph by beating Valis 18:12. Novi Beograd is at the top of the table with 14 points, followed closely by Radnički and Split's weekend with one point less.

This weekend, Serbian clubs also took the stage in the A1 Regional League, First A, and First B leagues of Serbia. Interestingly, the home teams were more successful in most matches in all four competitive levels.

Premier Regional League, Round Five

Crvena zvezda failed to offer serious resistance to the title defenders Novi Beograd at the "25th of May". Novi Beograd took an early lead of 4:0, maintaining it until the fourth quarter when they doubled the lead and triumphed 14:6. Vlahopulos and young Dimitrijević were the most efficient in the winning team, scoring three goals each, while Zvezda's water polo player Aleksandar Radanović also scored three goals.

Radnički did not allow any surprises in Valjevo and defeated Valis 18:12. Kragujevčan coach Uroš Stevanović rested Duško Pijetlović and Nikola Jakšić, but the guests, even without their experienced aces, dictated the rhythm and maintained a lead of four to six goals. Stanojević scored five, and Vićković three goals for Radnički, while Burburan was the most efficient among the hosts with three goals.

Before the start of the match between Grad Valjevo and Valis, a nice gesture was made by presenting commemorative gifts to the golden Olympians from Radnički.

And the third Serbian club on the European scene, Šabac Elixir, earned points, but away in Croatia. Nemanja Ličanin's team defeated Primorje in Rijeka 13:10. Šabac took a 4:0 lead, then allowed the Rijeka team to get closer. The hosts were trailing by only one goal early in the second half. Šabac responded with another streak of 5:0 and gained an unreachable lead of 10:4 before the final quarter. Aleksandar Kovačević was the most efficient player in the winning team, scoring three goals.

Crvena zvezda - Novi Beograd 6:14 (1:4, 2:3, 2:2, 1:5)
Valis - Radnički 12:18 (2:4, 3:6, 4:4, 3:4)
Solaris - HAVK Mladost 8:16 (1:4, 3:3, 3:5, 1:4)
Primorje - Šabac 10:13 (0:4, 3:1, 1:5, 6:3)
Primorac - Jug 16:15 (penalties)
Jadran HN - Jadran Split 12:13

Standings: Novi Beograd 14, Radnički 13, Jadran Split 13, HAVK Mladost 9, Solaris 8, Jug 7, Jadran HN 6, Crvena zvezda 6, Šabac 6, Primorac 5, Primorje 3, Valis without points.

A1 Regional League, Group "East", Second Weekend

The A1 Regional League, where seven Serbian clubs participate, continued. Their mutual results count towards the rankings in the group from 6th to 12th place in the Super League of Serbia.

A very interesting match took place in Niš, where Nais hosted Partizan. The Black and Whites took a 4:1 lead, but Nais managed to turn the game around and take a 5:4 advantage. From then until the end of the match, a fair battle was fought. The Niš team were often in the lead and even came close to winning three points, as they led 16:15. Partizan equalized 18 seconds before the end and then secured victory in the penalty shootout - 21:20.

Vojvodina - Zemun 10:11 (3:3, 1:3, 5:2, 1:3)
Nais - Partizan 20:21 (3:4, 3:3, 5:4, 5:5 - 4:5)
Vukovi - Proleter 17:9 (4:1, 5:1, 3:3, 5:4)
Budućnost - Kataro 15:19
Vojvodina - Vukovi on Sunday
Nais - Stari grad on Sunday

Standings: 1. NBG Vukovi 9 (3 matches), 2. Partizan 8 (3), 3. Stari grad 6 (2), 4. Zemun 6 (3), 5. Kataro 3 (3), 6. Budućnost 3 (3), 7. Nais 1 (1), 8. Vojvodina 0 (3), 9. Proleter 0 (3).

First "A" League of Serbia, Third Round

Sava - Bečej 10:11 (3:6, 2:1, 0:2, 5:2)
Spartak Patent CO - ŽAK 16:13 (4:2, 4:2, 3:4, 5:5)
Taš - Mladost on Sunday
Beograd - TENT on Sunday
Slobodan Singidunum

Standings: Bečej 9 (3 matches), Beograd 3 (1), Mladost 3 (1), Taš 3 (2), Singidunum 3 (2), TENT 3 (2), Sava 3 (3), Spartak 3 (3), ŽAK 0 (3)

First "B" League of Serbia, Second Round

Borac - Košutnjak 10:13 (1:2, 4:4, 4:3, 1:4)
Dorćol - Palilula 14:17 (2:4, 4:7, 3:2, 5:4)
Vračar - Rasina 6:14 (1:4, 1:4, 2:3, 2:3)
BVK Radnički - Taurunum on Sunday

Standings: 1. Košutnjak 6, 2. Rasina 6, 3. Palilula 6, 4. Radnički 3 (one match less), 5. Borac 3, 7. Dorćol 0, 8. Taurunum 0 (-1)