LOCHEM/WAALWIJK - What's going on with two of the four top teams in the Dutch three cushion league with only one round to play before the playoffs? MCR/De Uitspanning, still the leader, even lost 8-0 to Holland Mineral Bousema, one of the relegation candidates. And Buffalo.nl, the number three in the ranking, was beaten by 't Hartje/Van Wanrooy, which is also involved in the relegation battle. Is it the concentration, that is slightly sinking, is the motivation less now that the playoff places have already been distributed? And that, let's say, it's not really important which team is the first opponent, because the four (MCR/De Uitspanning, STZ Zundert, Buffalo.nl and A1 Biljarts) are from the same level.
With only one round to play, next Saturday is the first between De Uitspanning-Zundert, the others matches on April 17, this is the last week program:
Eekhoorn-Holland Mineral
VDO-'t Hartje/Van Wanrooy
Buffalo.nl-A1 Biljarts
De Distel-Post Luchtkanalen
HCR Prinsen-Dallinga.com
The current ranking on top is:
1 MCR/De Uitspanning 30 points
2 STZ Zundert, 29 points
3 Buffalo.nl, 28 points
4 A1 Biljarts, 28 points.
MCR/De Uitspanning ran into a painful beating today at Holland Mineral. Team Captain Ronny Hazewinkel said after the match: ,,Fantastic, finally, we have won once again.'' There was much at stake for Holland Mineral: avoid the relegation.
The best performance came from Stefan Galla. In his match against Dave Christiani, the German and the Dutch matched until 26-24 in twenty innings, then he attacked with 17. Christiani answered by a nine, but Galla then finished 4, 2 and 1. For his last 24 caroms, Galla only needed five innings.
Murat Naci Coklu and Leppens matched up until 41-41 after 29 innings, and after a run of four, three zeros and a final run of five, Coklu won 50-47 in 35 innings. STZ Zundert had a walk-over, in fact, against VDO, exept Roland Forthomme who was defeated by Rudie de Laet 50-35 in 33. Peter Ceulemans was one of the star players of the day by a win over Arie Weijburg: 50- 16 in 19.
Steven van Acker really showed how the form of a billiard player can go up and down in only two weeks. The Belgian, who played a world class match two weeks ago, was not a shadow of that player in his match against Frans van Kuyk. The Eekhoorn leader dictated the match from the start and won 50-18 in 22!! Bart Ceulemans was the only winner for the Dallinga home team. He bested his uncle Kurt in an excellent match (50-33 in 28). The youngest Ceulemans has found his form already for several weeks. ,,I know that some people think that I don't take billiards seriously'', Bart said after his match, viewed by his grandfather Raymond. ,,The reason that I play much better is, that I feel good in my head. There is not to much chaos there, after I got married, we bought a house and there is a baby coming soon. I really feel well at the billiard table as well.''
A1 Biljarts won the home match against De Distel 8-0, partly thanks to Eddy Merckx, who was a way too strong for Gerwin Valentijn 50-36 in 25. Burgman-Philipoom was decided in the final sprint in favor of the Dutchman: 50- 48 in 41. HCR Prinsen brought Post Luchtkanalen deeper in trouble by a 6-2 win. Davy van Havere made a valiant effort against Dick Jaspers, but eventually lost 50-48 in 27.
'T Hartje/Van Wanrooy recorded the most important win of the year against Buffalo.nl. Tayfun Tasdemir made the difference against Glenn Hoffman 50-47 in 27. Frank Martens defeated Jeffrey Jorissen (50-35 in 38). The only winner for Buffalo.nl: Jean van Erp of course: 50-38 against Ad Broeders in 39. VDO is already out at the bottom with three points. Post Luchtkanalen has fifteen points, 't Hartje sixteen points and Holland Mineraal 17.