APELDOORN - The Buffalo team from The Hague has done most of the hard work that is required to get them in the final of the play-offs of the 3-cushion league. Glenn Hofman, Jean van Erp, Jeffrey Jorissen and Herman van Daalen booked a shining 6-2 win in the first leg of their double match against A1 Biljarts. They will also carry a 43-point carom advantage into the second leg, which will be played on their home turf, in Biljartafé Jorissen on Tuesday.
,,We are close already, but not quite there yet'', said a down to earth Glenn Hofman after the match. ,,The 43 point advantage is massive, but it's no guarantee because A1 can also produce an upset. If we win the second leg, it's party time for sure, because everybody is free on Wednesday.''
Buffalo.nl and A1 Biljarts played the first of four play-off matches, with STZ Zundert and MCR/De Uitspanning meeting twice, starting Monday in Zundert, then Thursday in Barendrecht. Glenn Hofman made the difference in his match against Eddy Merckx, who had started with a run of seven, in the 14th - 2oth innings, with three runs of six. From 37-27 in his advantage, the nr. 1 player from the Hague then ran five, two and six to win 50-28 in 31.
Jean van Erp also had a comfortable win, even though he opposed Masters winner Raimond Burgman. The older of the two players could not get out of the younger one's grip. As it got to 20-13 in 17 innings, Van Erp ran two fives and a six to make it 45-27. Final score: an untroubled 50-27 in 33. Before the break, both teams had been even.
Jeffrey Jorissen made twenty points between his 11th and 19th inning, to run away from Martien van der Spoel and beat him 50-38 in 29. Herman van Daalen has lost in form in the weeks leading up to the Cup tournament, and today was no match for Henk Blauwblomme. The Belgian had his best play from the tenth inning on, when he ran six, seven and six. Final score: 50-36 in 34.