False start Oosterhout teams in Kozoom league

OOSTERHOUT - The real Oosterhout derby in the premier three-three cushion league in Holland (Kozoom league) was played last week and won by Team Eekhoorn 6-2 against Team Nachtwacht. But in the first league, featuring three teams from Oosterhout, two foursomes will face each other again tomorrow, Sunday: and both are from Camping De Eekhoorn. Jerry Hermans, the campsite manager, confesses: ’’Last week was the real derby, now we are actually playing a club championship.'' That's what it's called when Team Eekhoorn and DKM Tools face each other in the campsite's billiard arena.

The start of the Oosterhout teams has not yet been impressive. Team Eekhoorn is satisfied with four match points from three games. Twice there was a draw on the scoreboard, against J&F Auto's and against Bousema, only last week the full score was won 7-1 against Team Nachtwacht. For now, Team Nachtwacht and DKM Tools of the Oosterhout teams are at the bottom without match points.

Peter Ceulemans is the only one to have secured the maximum match points out of three matches for Team Eekhoorn. Frans van Kuyk scored three match points, as he lost to Stefan Galla in the match in which Nikos Polychronopoulos was the leading player and won against Jeffrey Jorissen 40-23 in 17. Jerry Hermans was on the bench in that match and now secured two match points from two games for his team.

The team captain, after a busy summer at the campsite, doesn’t want to speak about form or no form yet. ''I am well prepared, combined with work and private life.'' Jerry also played an excellent Grand Prix in Sittard, where in the main tournament he beat, among others, Erwin Kivits 40-38 in 20, playing 1.508 in his group, but was eliminated in the next round by Barry van Beers. Last week, by the way, Erwin Kitvits also shone with a run of 14 in his lost match against Peter Ceulemans.

The question, of course, within the Oosterhout enclave is whether the two teams at the bottom can get rid of the hateful zero after three matches. Team Nachtwacht will play in its home arena (De Babbelz) against Burgmans, where Eddy Leppens is the leader before his return to the PBA again and thus faces Erwin Kivits. Burgmans further plays with two more Belgians, Bart Ceulemans and Marco Janssen. Harrie van de Ven, Frank Martens and Frits Broeders are still looking for their first wins.

At the top of the league table, Zundert plays the always tricky match in Zeeland against Dallinga, which has made a poor start and will be looking for revenge in its own arena. Cues&Darts must defend its third place in an away match against J&F Auto's. Glenn Hofman, the Tilburgers' frontman, may confirm his good form against his former Hague team. Cues&Darts will field Pierre Soumagne as its only foreigner and plays with Huub Wilkowski and Volkan Cetin in addition to Glenn Hofman.

Aartsbouw Sprundel plays at home against SIS Schoonmaak, which deploys Eddy Merckx as front man and Toine Dekkers as stand-in at four. Tom Persyn, man in form at Aartsbouw, plays against Martien van der Spoel. Bousema Lochem and Dekker/AP are both keen to rise above the midfield. The mutual match will decide whether that is already an option. Bousema plays at home with Jorissen, Loncelle, Bruijstens and Van Schaik. Dekker deploys his regular team with Christiani, Van Beers, Valentijn and Blauwblomme.

 The full programme in the fourth round of the Kozoom league, Sunday 15 October from 1pm.

 Aartsbouw Sprundel-SIS Schoonmaak

Ronny Brants-Eddy Merckx

Dirk Weeremans-Jean van Erp

Tom Persyn-Martien van der Spoel

Ad Broeders-Toine Dekkers

Dallinga.com-STZ Zundert

Jean Paul de Bruijn-Sergio Jimenez

Steven van Acker-Thorsten Frings

Peter De Backer-Francis Forton

Berry Dallinga-Rik van Beers

J&F Auto's-Cues&Darts/Xtreme

Kay de Zwart-Glenn Hofman

Joey de Kok-Pierre Soumagne

Therese Klompenhouwer-Huub Wilkowski

Herman van Daalen-Volkan Cetin

DKM Tools-Team Eekhoorn

Davy van Havere-Peter Ceulemans

Roland Uijtdewillegen-Frans van Kuyk

Jack Wijnen-Kurt Ceulemans

Eddy Willems-Jerry Hermans

Team Nachtwacht-Burgmans Biljarts

Erwin Kivits-Eddy Leppens

Harrie van de Ven-Anno de Kleine

Frank Martens-Bart Ceulemans

Frits Broeders-Marco Janssen

Jerry Hermans, hosting his two home teams at De Eekhoorn