BARENDRECHT/SLUISKIL - The two best players in the Dutch league don't play in a team that is one of the contenders in the title race. Frédéric Caudron, who shone with a world class match in Sluiskil this Sunday (50 in 9 innings) is the leader in the Dallinga.com team that started the competition with not too much ambitions. Jean Paul de Bruijn, second man behind Caudron, a player from the region, even preferred a match in Germany, according to agreements with his team, instead playing for his home crowd.
Dick Jaspers does the same according to an agreement with Prinsen and played two brilliant matches in Germany this weekend: 40-11 in 12 innings against Zanetti, 40-21 in 14 against Uymaz, showing again that he and Caudron are the best player in the world already for some weeks.
The fact that these two are frequently lacking in the Dutch league is a pity for the crowd, because in Sluiskil the home crowd is showing up for matches like Caudron played against Arie Weijenburg in a fantastic performance today (50-5 in 9).
The top ranked teams, by the way, seem to be vulnerable. MCR/De Uitspanning, the leader, suffered a 6-2 defeat at home against HCR Prinsen, that even played without Jaspers and returned home to Haarlo with a nice win. The decision was made by Anno de Kleine with a sensational victory over Eddy Leppens. At 47-42 in favor of the Belgian, his opponent passed the timer. Leppens scored only one point from the break, then De Kleine took the win in the 35th inning.
Raymund Swertz defeated Sander Jonen 50-40 in 45, Jelle Pijl secured the win against Dave Christiani 50-30 in 30 aand only Bert Hoefnagels, a new man in the team, won his match against Michel van Silfhout.
Buffalo.nl came two points closer to the leader after a win over Holland Mineral. The Hague team won 6-2 in the awat match. Glenn Hoffman and Jean van Erp defeated the Galla brothers, Glenn won 50-28 in 30 against Stefan, Jean won 50-33 in 38 against Markus.
STZ Zundert won the away match against Post Luchtkanalen 5-3 thanks to strong performances by Roland Forthomme vs Davy van Havere (50-32 in 26) and Peter Ceulemans vs Henk Habraken (50-36 in 33).
The Brabant derby between Eekhoorn and De Distel, with some exciting matches, ended 4-4. Frans van Kuyk was the best winner against his Belgian teammate Gerwin Valentijn: 50-37 in 26. Jef Philipoom defeated Kurt Ceulemans (50-43 in 32) and made a run of twelve. John Tijssens was the better of good old Raymond Ceulemans 50-37 in 34.
A1 Biljarts remains in the top part of the ranking after its win over 't Hartje/Van Wanrooy 6-2. Eddy Merckx defeated Ad Broeders in 40, Raimond Burgman beat Francis Forton in 30 inning