A penalty six minutes from time by Vit Zajicek ensured that RLC Dragons Krupka won their first Czech Grand Final in the tightest of matches, defeating RLC Slavia Hradec Kralove 20-18. The win capped a superb season for the Dragons, who also finished as league leaders in the seven-team championship.
“We lost just once this season and our team grew and strengthened together,” said head coach Tomas Beranek. “I have to thank all the players. They made me really proud and I am happy that we have shown to everyone how hard we worked to claim the title.”
In the first half, tries from Tomas Nemecek and Antonin Berk, both goaled by Zajicek, gave the Dragons an early 12-0 lead, but the competition’s leading scorer, Jan Heininger responded for Slavia and their captain, Ladislav Cintler was successful with the conversion. Then, just before the break, Nemecek crossed for his second, with Zajicek once more successful to make it 18-6 to the Dragons.
The second half saw a Slavia revival, and around the hour two quick-fire tries to Cintler (for his second0 and Marko Mećava were both goaled to level the game. Cintler was wide with a penalty in the 70th minute, and when the Dragons responded and looked set for a drop goal they were awarded a penalty for a trip.
Zajicek was the hero with the decisive score, and the win saw the Dragons, whose juniors had already claimed their first ever CZRLA U18 crown, completet a clean sweep of all possible trophies in 2016.