APELDOORN - The top three teams in the Buffalo league will reach the new year with a small advantage over their competitors. There is one round left to play in 2016, and Eureka Biljarts has kept the lead after the 13th day of play, with a win over A1 Biljarts (6-2). Medisch Centrum Breda and Dallinga.com follow, a point behind. Five teams make up the long mid section of the table, they can still hope for improvement after the winter recess.
Jean Paul de Bruijn, the in-form player for weeks now, was one of the best in this weekend with a big win over Frans van Kuyk (40-15 in 17). It did not help his Dallinga team to a full victory, because only Bart Ceulemans contributed two more points, so the match ended 4-4. Kurt Ceulemans, against Steven van Acker (40-34 in 25) and Jerry Hermans (beating Berry Dallinga 40-28 in 31) were successful for Eekhoorn.
Eureka Billard was under attack for the lead position by A1 Biljarts, but withstood it with flying colors. The men from Utrecht recorded a 6-2, with only Dave Christiani losing against Eddy Merckx (40-36 in 25). Raimond Burgman (v. Gerwin Valentijn, 40-30 in 35), John Tijssens (v. Martien van der Spoel, 40-28 in 27) and Ronny Brants (40-22 in 34 v. Henk Blauwblomme) raised the flag for the winter champion.
A1 Biljarts must find a new main sponsor at the end of this season. The current mecenas is a private individual, who will end his affiliation with A1, and start a new team. He will take Eddy Merckx and Gerwin Valentijn with him.
Medisch Centrum Breda travelled to Lochem to meet the team now headed by Eddy Leppens. Lochem's new ace debuted well, beating his uninspired countryman Roland Forthomme 40-13 in 23. The general may have faltered, but his lieutenants won the battle for him: Peter Ceulemans, Barry van Beers and Raymon Groot beat Stefan Galla, Markus Galla and John Schollink respectively, in 26, 34 en 27 innings. A fine team performance for the guys from Zundert.
HCR Prinsen was left empty-handed after their home game against Buffalo.nl (2-6). Anno de Kleine came up with the goods when he decisively beat Jeffrey Jorissen (40-18 in 18). Glenn Hofman defeated Peter De Backer (40-33 in 33), Jean van Erp couldn't impress but still won against Jelle Pijl (40-27 in 35) and Herman van Daalen was an important fourth board winner for The Hague, with his 40-31 in 36 against Dave van Geel.
TOVV/Royal Pro won the house derby against their reserves of TOVV/2, despite Kay de Zwart's efforts. The young man from Brabant faced World Cup crack Birol Uymaz and edged him 40-39 in 30. The TOVV flagship sailed on though, with wins by Martin Spoormans, Frans van Schaik (best winner, 26 innings) and Richard Bitalis.
On Saturday evening, Burgmans Biljarts and 't Hartje/Van Wanrooy played a solid and mutually earned draw. Savas Bulut showed his quality against Marco Janssen (40-23 in 19), Tayfun Tasdemir was vulnerable against Christian Rudolph, as he was in the first half. The German won 40-34 in 24.