Zagreb defeated in a winter thriller in Sinj
SC Ivan Poljak Sokol – Andrija Alčić, Sinj | 22. november 2025.
Rugby is played in all conditions, say the veterans of the sport. But what happened on Saturday afternoon on the field in Sinj was a true test of character, endurance, and mental strength. RK Zagreb learned a painful lesson: in rugby, the winner is the one who keeps their composure until the very last second.
At dawn on Saturday morning, while Zagreb was just waking up, the RK Zagreb rugby players were already on their way to Sinj. What was supposed to be a routine trip quickly turned into a battle with severe weather — gale-force winds, sleet, and snow followed them the entire way. Delays were inevitable, so the kickoff had to be pushed back by an hour. Yet despite everything, the team arrived, pulled on their jerseys, and proudly stepped onto the foggy, waterlogged, snow-covered Sinj battlefield.
The pitch was tougher than at any point this season — puddles, slippery footing, and powerful gusts of wind made it clear that every meter gained would be hard-earned. For that reason, this clash already stands out as one of the most demanding challenges Zagreb has faced so far this season.
Despite being exhausted from the long trip and the cold, the Zagreb players entered the match with determination and focus. After a few minutes of tactical probing, Zagreb made better use of the first real opportunity. Niko Vranešević, calm as a surgeon under pressure, slotted a penalty for 0–3, opening the match.
However, the lead didn’t last long. Sinj, known for its hard style of play and powerful pack, answered through Dražen Brčić-Šušak, with Niko Pavlović converting for 7–3. The momentum shifted to the home side, who dictated the tempo through their well-organized forwards. Not long after, following another phase of dominance in contact, Marko Grčić found his way to the try line, and Pavlović converted again — 14–3.
But Zagreb refused to sink. They pushed up their defensive line, pressured Sinj in their own half, and then came the moment that brought hope back. An intercepted ball, a burst of speed, and Kostanjšak outran the home defense. Vranešević added the conversion — narrowing the score to 14–10, which remained the result at halftime.
The second half continued in the same relentless rhythm. Zagreb tried to string phases together, but Sinj’s forward pack remained a problem they struggled to solve. Additional difficulties came from incomplete tackles in the back line. After a scrum deep in Zagreb’s territory, Toni Miloš found a gap and extended the home side’s lead.
Still, Zagreb refused to give in — in fact, they began playing their fastest rugby of the match. Set-piece moves and quick ball distribution gave them new momentum. In one of those attacks, Vranešević broke through two defenders in a nearly impossible situation and scored to close the gap. But Sinj responded again, this time through Jukić.
And then — a brilliant moment from Zagreb’s back line. A strong scrum, another precisely executed set-piece move, Vranešević broke through once more and converted with pinpoint accuracy. The score was 24–24, and it seemed Zagreb had the match in their hands.
Unfortunately, the closing stages belonged to Sinj. Zagreb couldn’t maintain the high tempo, and individual and technical errors once again took their toll. The hosts capitalized on two opportunities, scored two more tries, and closed out the match 38–24. 38:24.
Conclusion
Zagreb had everything — rhythm, stretches of dominance, a comeback from a deficit — and could have left Sinj with a victory. But key details, technical mistakes, and moments of lost concentration decided otherwise.
This defeat must be accepted, analyzed, and turned into a lesson. Because next week brings a new challenge — the always tricky and exceptionally strong opponent, Nada Split.
Despite everything, the players and coaching staff deserve credit: traveling and playing in such conditions is a testament to character and heart. But rugby offers no excuses — both the backs and the forwards must raise their level if they want to remain competitive in the rest of the season.
Bab Šik!