BARENDRECHT - The top match in the Eredivisie between MCR/De Uitspanning and Buffalo.nl ended with a 6-2 win for the home team from Barendrecht. A1 Biljarts maintained their top-4 position by beating Holland Mineraal 6-2. Leader MCR now has 27 points, Buffalo.nl and A1 follow on 25 and Zundert, after losing their away game against Prinsen, now trail by three points.
The current numbers two, three and four in the table are still not 100 % certain of their play-off spot, with Eekhoorn, Prinsen and even Dallinga in with a theoretical chance. It has to be said: the program of the last four rounds does not bode well for the three followers.
On top, there are still some good matches to be played, like De Uitspanning-STZ Zundert and Buffalo.nl-A1 Biljart on the last day, 17 April. In the upcoming rounds, Zundert still has to meet with De Distel, and Dallinga with De Uitspanning on 6 March. Buffalo.nl will face Zundert on 13 March, and A1 Biljarts will play De Distel on 20 March.
The battle for the top positions had two winners and two losers this weekend. Eddy Leppens, Thorsten Frings (last ten points in two innings) and Sander Jonen (fine 28-inning match) defeated Buffalo as they got the better of Glenn Hofman (50-39 in 23), Jeffrey Jorissen (50-37 in 39) and Herman van Daalen (50-32 in 28). The only player for The Hague who could make a fist was Jean van Erp in his match against Dave Christiani (50-45 in 37). ,,I started slow with a 21-10 backlog after 16, then I got some production going. Too bad I missed match point three times, and Dave added five points in the equalizer.''
A1 Biljarts had no mercy with Holland Mineraal (7-1) and can play the las four rounds with confidence. Martien van der Spoel (nice run of ten) and Markus Galla both passed the finish line in 43 innings (50-50). Eddy Merckx was the exemplary lead plyer as always: 50-36 in 30 against Stefan Galla.
Dick Jaspers killed the hopes of STZ Zundert: the Dutch lead player was at 40-40 against Roland Forthomme and ran a ten in the 26th inning, to seal a 6-2 win for his team and a costly loss for the team from Brabant.
Peter Ceulemans was absent for once, he played the Spanish league this weekend. Barry and Rik van Beers lost to Anno de Kleine and Jelle Pijl in 41 and 36 innings, Raymon Groot beat Raymund Swertz 50-36 in 46.
De Distel whitewashed VDO (8-0), and it was well-deserved. Jef Philipoom was the best player of the team, when he beat Arie Weijenburg 50-35 in 31.
Dallinga.com solidified their position in the middle of the table with a 6-2 win over Post Luchtkanalen. Jean Paul de Bruijn beat Henk Habraken 50-28 in 28, Frédéric Caudron overcame the opposition of Davy van Havere (50-29 in 32).