VLAARDINGEN/HAARLO - Which billiard player has climbed Alpe d'Huez this Sunday, without knowing it? Sander Jonen, still recovering from major surgery, recorded a classy win (40 in 28 innings) in front of his home crowd, and commented: ,,I never have, but I feel as if I did.'' And which 66-year old player came agonizingly close to beating superstar Dick Jaspers? Martin Spoormans was overcome by nerves, and only produced the final points after five misses, allowing Jaspers to get close enough for a fraw.
Those were just two of the highlights on the ninth day of the Dutch Buffalo league, still led by Eureka after their 8-0 victory over Team Eekhoorn. The top five teams are in an interesting battle, with Zundert, Dallinga and Prinsen on two points from the leader, A1 Biljarts on three.
Good moments for the spectators: the run of ten that Jean van Erp ended with (6-2 for Buffalo), and the run of five made by Dick Jaspers to give Prinsen the 5-3 win. Jaspers was thrown a lifeline by Martin Spoormans, who had the lead all match long (some ten points) but from 38-28 could not slam the door. Seven innings later, the Belgian watched as Jaspers equalized with a run of five.
The three teams in pursuit of Eureka, that impressed with victories by Dave Christiani over Frans van Kuyk (40-25 in 28), Raimond Burgman against Kurt Ceulemans (40-19 in 23), John Tijssens over Kenny Miatton (40-34 in 38) and Henk Habraken against Jerry Hermans (40-23 in 28) had an afternoon of walking a tightrope. They had to work hard and go the distance for the win.
Dallinga.com trailed 3-1 at halftime, and repaired the damage against TOVV 2 with victories by Jean Paul de Bruijn and Bart Ceulemans. STZ Zundert had a 4-0 lead at halftime, but the Turkish players of 't Hartje were tough opponents for Roland Forthomme and Peter Ceulemans. Tayfun Tasdemir decisively beat Forthomme 40-18 in 17, Peter Ceulemans had the better finish against Savas Bulut, to win 40-38 in 28.
Tension was high in the HCR Prinsen room, when the match against TOVV/Royal Pro was equal after the first session: 2-2. De Kleine beat Bitalis 40-19 in 29, Van Schaik got the better of Pijl, 40-35 in 33. De Backer stylishly dominated against Sciacca (40-16 in 19), but Jaspers struggled against oldtimer Spoormans. The equalizing inning (from 40-35) brought the spectators to the edge of their seats. Jaspers, who had not been at his brilliant best during the Grand Prix in The Hague, showed his grit and gave Haarlo the 5-3 win when he made the missing five.
Marcel Scheffer outdid Jaspers, when he equalized with a six for TOVV 2, drawing with Patrick Vasseur. Jean Paul de Bruijn won in 25 innings against tegen Kay de Zwart (40-34) and Bart Ceulemans had no trouble seeing off Ger Windt (40-21 in 37), so the Dallinga team had another 5-3 win to celebrate.
Buffalo.nl kept the points at home when Glenn Hofman beat Stefan Galla (40-33 in 28), Jean van Erp beat Lars Dunch (40-17 in 19) and Jeffrey Jorissen bested Therese Klompenhouwer (40-35 in 38). A1 Biljarts had played on Saturday evening already, away against Burgmans Biljarts. They kept in touch with the leaders with a 6-2 victory. Eddy Merckx (in 22 innings) and Gerwin Valentijn (in 25) were the best players of the night. Bert van Manen was the only winner for the home team: he beat Martien van der Spoel 40-30 in 33.