MALLE - The main prize in the Belgian three-cushion league is not so far away for De Goeie Queue after rounds of 22 matches. The almost unbeatable team won its home game again 8-0 last night and is eight points ahead now of BC Deurne and Herentals.
The other 'pursuer', Op de Meir, was severly punished by De Witte Molen (7-1) and is further down.
De Goeie Queue deliverd an excellent team effort against De Ploeg 2. Frédéric Caudron showed himself the great leader of the team in the match against Jack Wijnen: 50-5 (!) in 21 innings, after a 24-2 halftime score in eight. Dick Jaspers finished in 23 innings against Matthy Monnissen (50-17) after 32-3 in thirteen innings, Eddy Merckx defeated Jerry Hermans in 22 innings (42-23) and Jean Paul de Bruijn finished not so far ahead of against Wim van Dijck 42-35 in 36 innings.
The Op-de-Meir boys faced some bad luck in the away match versus De Witte Molen. Both Barry van Beers and Iwan Stitschinsky lacked only one carom, which resulted in a 7-1 loss. ,,We lost 7-1, but by the same token we could have win 5-3'', captain Eddy Leppens explained.
The contest turned out into a bizarre final on three tables. Eddy Leppens was on 49 points against Glenn Hofman when the Dutchman came up with a run of eight, that brought him on 48. When Leppens could finish, two innings later, Hofman made the draw from the equalizer. Barry van Beers had a 49 on the scoreboard against Francis Forton, who played a bad match, but ran out with eight in the 52th inning. And Ivan Stitschinsky needed five points from in the equalizer, but he missed his last.
Francis Forton finished with a run of 8 after a poor match
BC Deurne and Herentals, the two teams which are the closest to the leader, recorded a victory in the fifteenth round. BC Herentals with the maximum score in the home match against Sint Truiden, BC Deurne won the home match against Zanzibar 7-1.
Torbjörn Blomdahl and Roland Forthomme, always reminding the historic match when they face each other (2004, Ockenburgh in Goes, Forthomme won 50-6 in 11 innings) played an excellent match in Deurne with the Swede who took the win: 50-44 in 31 innings.
Jef Philipoom shared the points with Dave Christiani (32 innings), Jean van Erp defeated Kenny Miatton 42-30 in 25 and Davy van Havere was a way too strong for the suffering Frenchman Pierre Soumagne, who has lost his way after a strong season-start: 42 -20 in 34.
Martin Horn was the best man again for Herentals in his match against Frédéric Mottet (50-22 in 27), Christian Rudolph came but with a narrow margin against Thomas Broux (50-47 in 36).
KBC Biljartvrienden didn't manage to leave the lower regions. Raimond Burgman played a draw against Ronny Lindemann after a whirlwind sprint (50-50 in 29), John Tijssens defeated Huub Wilkowski (50-35 in 38), but the players on three and four failed. Dirk Weeremans bested Johan Claessen 42-40, Eddy Willems wiped the floor with Patrick Vloemans (42-13 in 27).
Royal Bruges returned with a neat draw from the away match against Biljart Express and thereby won the second match point in fourteen games. Koen Saver was the best in the match beating Martin Spoormans 42-37 in 30.