HAARLO - The Hague/Haarlo clash between SIS Schoonmaak and Prinsen decides on the Dutch championship for teams in the next weekend. The first finalist was already known, the opponent came from the return in the semi-finals on Tuesday-evening. HCR Prinsen was well the better of Team Eekhoorn (8-0) after the draw (4-4) on the Brabant billiards camping. The match in the Prinsen stronghold was almost decided during the break. The Haarlo team took a 4-0 lead and a big margin in caroms. Dick Jaspers and Eddy Leppens lifted the score to a comfortable victory.
The two finalists meet each other on Saturday and Sunday at De Veemarkt in Doetinchem in the weekend of the division championships. On Saturday is the first game between SIS Schoonmaak and Prinsen at 19.30, on Sunday is the second match at 18.30. The matches are broadcast live by kozoom.
Dick Jaspers and Eddy Leppens faced in the late night session the mission to make at least 35 points against Frans van Kuyk and Kurt Ceulemans. The margin in caroms had risen to 46 points due to the first wins of Anno de Kleine and Jelle Pijl. The decision took place after half an hour. Dick Jaspers started smoothly 14-2 in two innings after a run of 10 and Eddy Leppens had his opponent in his grip after 12 innings, 14-4. Three caroms later, Dinand Prinsen could already cheer softly. The final scores in the last two matches were: Jaspers-Van Kuyk 40-25 in 14 after an equalizer of 7 for Van Kuyk. Eddy Leppens-Kurt Ceulemans 40-16 in 23 innings. As a result, the final score in the meeting was 8-0 for Prinsen.
De Haarlo team boss already carefully looked ahead to the final. ,,That will be a fifty-fifty match, because The Hague is always a tough opponent for us. Jaspers is always struggling with Hofman and Leppens against Van Erp can't be predicted. We will see how it is at the break and then try to finish it off. Anyway, we show up in the same line-up with Jaspers, Leppens, De Kleine and Pijl. I would be delighted of course if we could grab the title.'' With the atmosphere in the return last night, Prinsen was extremely satisfied. ,,We had a nice, full room and I had expected that. With our team we have great fans, which are always supporting us in these kind of important matches.''
Before the break in the return, the roles were reversed compared to the previous meeting. Anno de Kleine and Jelle Pijl took revenge for the losses in the first round. Anno de Kleine needed a tough fight against Kenny Miatton. The Belgian put up an attack with 8 in the final phase, giving him a lead of 35-31. The match went straight to the end with a better De Kleine in the last innings: 40-37 in 36 innings.
Jelle Pijl took the initiative after a difficult start (9-9 in 9) and then got little resistance from the Brabant camping owner. The margin was extended by Pijl to 35-22 in 31, he eventually finished 40-24 in 34. The lack of high runs was striking: Pijl scored a four as best, Hermans only 3.
The matches for the final this weekend:
Jaspers-Hofman
Leppens-Van Erp
De Kleine-Burgman
Pijl-Jorissen.
Dick Jaspers in front of his home crowd in the Prinsen arena