DEN Haag - On Saturday evening, Buffalo The Hague had celebrated already, after their surprise cup win over A1 Biljarts. A draw against Zundert in Sunday's regular league match added to the joy. The 4-4 meant Buffalo is in the play-offs for sure, because Eekhoorn lost in Oosterhout to Post Luchtkanalen (6-2). A1 Biljarts drew with Prinsen.
Three teams are now certain of the extended competition: MCR/De Uitspanning, Buffalo.nl and STZ Zundert. A1 Biljarts is likely, but not 100 % certain, because it leads Eekhoorn four points with two matches to go. Post Luchtkanalen, in the relegation fight, pulled away from 't Hartje by one point, when they beat Eekhoorn. 't Hartje played a draw, when they visited De Distel. Holland Mineraal lost 8-0 to Dallinga, and is now not assured of their spot for next season.
The most spectacular match by far in this round, was played between Murat Naci Coklu and Frédéric Caudron, the lead players for Holland Mineraal and Dallinga. The Turk started with a run of ten, only to watch Caudron get back at him with runs of thirteen and ten. In the thirteenth inning, the Belgian was at 49 but missed. Two innings later, he crossed the line, leaving Coklu at 47. Dallinga had a more pleasant (and long) journey bavk because of the 8-0 in Lochem. Jean Paul de Bruijn beat Stefan Galla (50-36 in 35). Patrick Vasseur, who regularly wins in the Belgian league but has built up a Dutch complex, beat Stefan Spilleman 50-43 in 51.
MCR/De Uitspanning had no trouble maintaining the top spot, winning 7-1 against VDO. The one missing point was a slip-up by Eddy Leppens against Rudy de Laet: 50-50 in 38. Dave Christiani was one of the better players of the day, butchering Arie Weijenburg 50-15 in 23. Dick Jaspers played Eddy Merckx in the Gelderland derby and trailed all match long. But as he has done for weeks, he finished strongly and edged Merckx 50-49 in 33. Raimond Burgman beat Anno de Kleine 50-32 in 37. Jelle Pijl was was the best winner in Haarlo, when he dominated Martien van der Spoel 50-19 in 27.
The match between Eekhoorn and Post Luchtkanalen was decided in a photo-finish twice. Davy van Havere beat Kurt Ceulemans (50-49 in 35) and Kenny Miatton did the same to Henk Habraken in 42 innings. Martin Horn was valuable with his win over Frans van Kuyk (50-46 in 34) and Wilco van Wijk got the better of Jerry Hermans, winning 50-45 in 62! Buffalo.nl and STZ Zundert were even both before and after halftime. Barry van Beers excelled in the first half against Jeffrey Jorissen: 50-32 in 26. Herman van Daalen beat Raymon Groot 50-48 in 45. Jean van Erp has barely lost a match in weeks, and maintained form against Peter Ceulemans, winning 50-29 in 33. Roland Forthomme saved a point for STZ/Zundert when he beat Glenn Hofman 50-43 in 33. At Distel-'t Hartje, John Tijssens and Tayfun Tasdemir were the best players of the day, wining their matches in 26 and 28 innings. The end result was a draw: Tasdemir beat Valentijn 50-33, Tijssens was quite a bit stronger than Martens: 50-23.