UDEN – The leading group in the Dutch premier league, after nine rounds of play, is an extensive collection of teams which are serious contenders for the play-offs at the end. Rarely, it has been so exciting in the highest class, the Kozoom league, in which SIS Schoonmaak is no longer the sole ruler, two teams remain close by and in total even nine of 12 teams still have prospects of high positions, or at least are capable of challenging each other. Two examples fthis Sunday: SIS Schoonmaak lost at home to Cues&Darts 2-6, Team Eekhoorn went down 5-3 against Burgmans Biljarts, the team that actually is only two points away from the last positions.
Frontrunners and high class players are no longer certainties for their teams and outsiders make matches more attractive and unpredictable. What to think, in the SIS Schoonmaak team for instance, of Eddy Merckx, in top form for weeks, facing an unpredictable Robinson Morales, the Colombian who had also beaten Dick Jaspers in France this week and now won 40-31 in 23.
How confident Jean van Erp was of his win after a lightning-fast start against Glenn Hofman and a big lead at the break. But what happens: the Brabant players stops scoring, the Hague player fights back and still wins the match. And at least so bizarre: Martien van der Spoel makes a 10 at the start of his match against Jef Philipoom, things run flawlessly, but halfway through, things turn around and the Belgian unexpectedly still wins 40-37.
Who makes it all up. Anno de Kleine, man of ups and downs, plays Peter Ceulemans to a hopeless loss 40-19 in 17 innings, the second best match of this weekend. Gerwin Valentijn, a player who had already announced his farewell, is on fire like a young dog against Sam van Etten, winning 40-20 in 29.
Dion Nelin has fireworks in his cue and beats Erwin Kivits 40-14 in 16, Jack Wijnen is an outstanding winner for DKM Tools against Frits Broeders. Therese Klompenhouwer and Joey de Kok help J&F Auto's to a shared win with victories over routine players Ronny Brants and Dirk Weeremans. And who could expect Jeffrey Jorissen to be the only loser for Bousema in the away match against Dallinga, as Martin Horn, Stefan Galla and Paul Bruijstens clinched the win in excellent games (22, 23 and 22 innings for 40 caroms.).
Where did that lead in the 9th round of play?
X SIS Schoonmaak, despite the 2-6 at home against Cues&Darts, remains in the lead with 14 points from 9.
X Cues&Darts climbs to the second position with that win, which the team shares with Team Eekhoorn, the 5-3 loser against Burgmans Biljarts.
X Topbiljart Zundert and APSprundel share the win 4-4, Dekker owes that point mainly to Blauwblomme, who beat Forton 40-39.
X Bousema and Burgmans compete in the top half after wins against Dallinga and Team Eekhoorn respectively.
X DKM Tools pushes Team Nachtwacht slightly more firmly into last place with a 6-2 win with the excellent Dion Nelin as team captain.
And finally, were there any high series in this weekend of play? Not too bad. Anno de Kleine 14, Sergio Jimenez and Dion Nelin 11, Paul Bruijstens and Martien van der Spoel 10.
So on to the 10th and 11th rounds that close the year and will further shake up the rankings.
Robinson Morales, after Dick Jaspers in France now a win over Eddy Merckx in Dutch league