SLUISKIL/DEN HAAG -
The match between Eureka Billards and Buffalo.nl was still undecided when the news from Sluiskil came through. The team from Dallinga.com got a full win against TOVV/Royal Pro (5-3), thanks to strong play by Frédéric Caudron (v. Nikos Polychronopoulos) and Jean Paul de Bruijn against Birol Uymaz. The winning point was made by Patrick Vasseur, who manged a draw against Martin Spoormans. That match turned out to be crucial to the confrontation, which gave Dallinga a share of the lead because Eureka Billard lost in The Hague (6-2). The Buffalo league enters the winter recess with three leaders. Medisch Centrum Breda is the third team at the top, after they lost a valuable point in the Brabant derby against Team Eekhoorn.
Danny Molier of TOVV, who sent his top team into the ring in a line-up with Polychronopoulos and Uymaz, had hoped for a win in Zeeland. He did not look for excuses: ,,A deserved loss in a strange encounter'', he commented. ,,I have to say that Vasseur drew with Spoormans thanks to eight flukes, but even that is no excuse, since Spoormans produces 600 of those each season.'' TOVV/Royal Pro will play in the same line-up next season, with Polychronopoulos coming over for six matches, Uymaz for all 22.
Dallinga, surprise, surprise is back on top. Frédéric Caudron was once again their hero, in a predictably lightning-fast match against Polychronopoulos, the two quickest players in the league: 40-25 in 16 innings. The bout between the nrs. two of both teams had a strange start: Birol Uymaz ran a ten in his first inning and then fell into a very long dry spell. The player from Hulst caught up quickly, built up a ten point lead and booked a simple 40-26 in 29 win.
Eureka Billard lost their lead in the table in the second half of the match against Buffalo.nl, when Jean van Erp demolished Francis Forton 40-16 in 23 and Glenn Hofman got his revenge for the lost Masters final against Burgman. This time the younger player won: 40-33 in 27. John Tijssens, in excellent form, wiped the floor with Jeffrey Jorissen, but he was the only player in his team to win: 40-10 in 20. ,,I had a great start, with 29-3 in 8 innings'', was Tijssens' reaction.
Medisch Centrum Breda, a main competitor to the other two frontrunners, drew at home against Team Eekhoorn. The clash between uncle and nephew Ceulemans ended in a win for Kurt, who beat Peter 40-35 in 28. Roland Forthomme saved a point for his team when he beat Frans van Kuyk 40-29 in 25.
Burgmans Biljarts could not get the full win in their important relegation match against TOVV2. Marco Janssen and Rik van Beers opened up a 4-0 lead, but the Germans Rudolph and Lindemann could not capitalize on that promising start. Kay de Zwart is on a roll, he beat Rudolph 40-37 in 35. Sander Jonen held off Lindemann by a surprising margin: 40-33 in 44.
A1 Biljarts dealt with Bousema, thanks to Eddy Merckx (40-25 in 21 against Coklu), Gerwin Valentijn and Martien van der Spoel, who gave the Galla brothers an unpleasant evening. Raymund Swertz was HCR Prinsen's shining star in their 4-4 match against 't Hartje/Van Wanrooy. The balkline specialist played a dream of a match, beating Ad Broeders 40-17 in 21. Dick Jaspers returned to his squad with a victory over Davy van Havere, 40-30 in 26. Frank Martens played a key role in the outcome when he edged Anno de Kleine 40-39.