TURNHOUT - The two leaders in the Belgian team league head into the winter with a wide margin over a long group of chasers. Biljart Express and Herstal came out of the 11th round with expected wins over De Leug 7-1 and De Ploeg 6-2. Mister 100 and Kortrijkse top the middle group with Op de Meir, De Leug and Brugse.
Biljart Express and Herstal, with 18 and 17 points, also happen to be the highest teams in average: 1.375 and 1.385. Mister 100 was a strong winner over Brugse 8-0 on Monday, KBC Kortrijkse, the surprising number 3, was the better of Biljart Promotion 6-2.
There were not so many big outliers in averages and high runs in the 11th round. Frans van Kuyk was the only one to finish just under 20 innings in his victory over Davy van Havere: 40-17 in 19. In the same match, Eddy Merckx was a generous winner against Jeffrey Jorissen 40-22 in 26.
Herstalien emerged unscathed from the away match against De Ploeg with Pierre Soumagne the best man this time. The Frenchman beat Joey de Kok 40-30 in 21 innings. Roland Forthomme won his match against Dustin Jäschke 40-31 in 26.
De Leug's reserves took a little distance from the bottom two positions with a clever win at De Witte Molen (2-6). Johan Loncelle was the best winner playing Frédéric Mottet (40-34 in 27), Francis Forton the only winner for the home team against Frans van Schaik 40-25 in 32. Kenny Miatton and Joeri de Cleen were the other winners for De Leug 2.
Mister 100 was not threatened by the Royal Bruges and won at home with the maximum score: 8-0. Peter Ceulemans showed his class on centercourt against Steven van Acker 40-20 in 27, while Kurt Ceulemans and Henk Blauwblomme remained the closest. Ceulemans won 40-37 in 31. BC T's Place got some more breath at the bottom by a nice win against BC Op de Meir 6-2. Huub Wilkowski and Jef Philipoom, teammates in the Netherlands, played a spirited match, Wilkowski triumphing 40-36 in 34. Barry van Beers was the only winner for Op de Meir against Freddy Staelens 40-38 in 42.