ROOSENDAAL/DEN HAAG/HAARLO - The STZ Zundert team from Brabant closed its eredivisie season in the lead, without playing the last round. The match against BC Osdorp, formerly called MCR/De Uitspanning, could not take place, after Sander Jonen's team lacked available players following a falling-out with the sponosr. At the end of regular round-robin play, the top-4 are STZ Zundert, A1 Biljarts, BC Osdorp and Buffalo.nl. As a consequence, should BC Osdorp manage to get a foursome together, the semifinals will be: Zundert to play Buffalo.nl and A1 Biljarts facing Osdorp.
VDO had already been sentenced to relegation, Post Luchtkanalen will now join them. The newcomers are TOVV/Royal Pro from Vlaardingen, as it managed to stay ahead of Van Broekhoven/De Distel and FDV Jacoby, and from the other flight Burgmans Biljarts from Bergeijk, as it fended off De Veemarkt and Man op Maat. TOVV played - amongst others - with Nikos Polychronopoulos (1.776 in 3 matches), Richard Bitalis (1.295 in 4), Martin Spoormans (1.293 in 18), Frans van Schaik (1.242 in 19) and Emilio Sciacca (1.244 in 16). For Burgmans Ronny Lindemann (1.534 in 3 matches), Marco Janssen (1.197 in 20), Rik van Beers (1.169 in 20), Johan Roijers (0.902 in 20) and Bert van Manen (1.103 in 16) did all the hard work.
The watered-down closing day of the "eredivisie" decided over the first four places in the final table. Not only did BC Osdorp and STZ Zundert not play their last match, Buffalo.nl showed up with two substitute players. A1 Biljarts beat the team from The Hague 6-2, and it took them to second place, behing STZ/Zundert.
At the low end of the table, 't Hartje/Van Wanrooy escaped by winning the final match against VDO (6-2). Tayfun Tasdemir beat De Laet 50-16 in 21 innings, Martin Spoormans and Ad Broeders also won for 't Hartje.
Post Luchtkanalen won a point against De Distel, but it did them no good. Henk Habraken managed to beat Jef Philipoom 50-49 in 42, and Marc Celen got the better of Puck van Aart: 50-45 in 69.
Eekhoorn is the nr. 5, waiting in the wings for a chance to be in the play-offs, if BC Osdorp fails to present four players. The team from Brabant drew 4-4 against Mineraal Holland. Therese Klompenhouwer excelled in her match against Kenny Miatton, to win 50-41 in 31. ,,I have had a few miserable months, but this was the real Terri'', she said after the match. ,,I am now going to focus on the WC.''
In the anonymous middle of the table, HCR Prinsen and Dallinga.com played a draw. Dick Jaspers was seriously trailing against Jean Paul de Bruijn, but he made a comeback and was decisive in the final innings (run of 10): 50-49 in 24. Steven van Acker once again showed good form: he beat Anno de Kleine (50-31 in 24) and ended the match with a run of twelve.