MALLE/LIER - There was a spacious 8-0 on the score board at the end of De Goeie Queue in the home match against Op de Meir. Nothing wrong for the leaders in the Belgian league, but nothing further from the truth. The most strange match in this competition was played this evening between Eddy Leppens and Frédéric Caudron and Eddy Merckx, always good for spectacular performances, ran a super 18!!
The report of the seventeenth round.
Eddy Leppens himself explains what happened in his match against Caudron:
,,I had 49 caroms on the score board in 28 innings and needed one point for the win. Fred was far behind, I think at 49-33. I dominated the match, made a 9 and I was waiting for the final point. But then the unbelievable thing happened: I could not score one point anymore, not because Fred played defence, but because the billiard changed, the positions were very bad, I had some bad luck and missed a few good balls. So we went to the end, Fred scoring some points, I couldn't make any caroms, for eleven innings long. And when he finished, I also missed the equalizer. I rarely or never played such a strange match in my career.'' The final score thus: Caudron won 50-49.
Frédéric Caudron: ,,I lost my luck as well after the break, but I believed in my chances when Eddy missed so many times in a row. He couldn't score, partly because of bad luck, but he also missed a few easy balls and missed on a 'butage' for one of his match balls. And finally I was rewarded for waiting my chances.''
The match result did not matter that much for the score. De Goeie Queue was already match winner thanks to Eddy Merckx, Jean Paul de Bruijn and Jerry Hermans. Merckx starred again in all his brilliance: he played against Barry Beers, was 25-10 ahead in 14 innings and then made eighteen for 43-10 in 15. It resulted in 50-25 in 24.
The two leaders remain on top after BC Deurne played a 6-2 in Roeselare. De Goeie Queue and Deurne are also in balance in game points right now. Deurne has a slightly better average (1.479 against 1.428).
The final title race will be very exciting. Caudron: ,,We play in the coming matches against De Ploeg 2, at home against Zanzibar, off to Deurne, at home against Herentals and the last against De Witte Molen. Deurne meets Biljartvrienden, an away match against Biljart Express, at home against us, off to De Ploeg 2 and at home against Zanzibar. But beware... if two dogs quarrel over the bone... Zanzibar is a tough competitor.''
In the BC Deurne team, the new world champion Jean van Erp had recovered from his and ceremonies. ,,I had to ride 450 km for this match'', he said. ,,But I played well and won quite easily 42 to 25.'' Torbjörn Blomdahl defeated Steven van Acker 50-36 in 27, Jef Philipoom lost to Cédéric Melnytschenko (50-43 in 30), Davy van Havere defeated Peter Mostrey 42-22 in 31.
Zanzibar returned home with a 6-2 win after the away match vs Biljartvrienden (Forthomme-Burgman 50-45 in 24 innings, Christiani-Tijssens 50-45 in 41) and remains one match point behind the two frontrunners.
Mister 100 Lier and BC Herentals, the two pursuers, drew in their mutual match (4-4). The two frontmen of Herentals won (Martin Horn in a strong match against Peter Ceulemans 50-25 in 20), Raymond Ceulemans defeated Leon Smolders 42-31 in 43 and Bart Ceulemans saved one point for Mr 100. When he was 37-36 behind against Geert Meylemans, he finished it off with 6.
Frans van Kuyk was one of the best winners of the matchday: 50-20 in 28 against Dustin Jäschke. Biljart Express won 7-1 against De Ploeg 2. De Witte Molen was a way too strong for De Ploeg 1 and won 8-0. Francis Forton was the best of the Mill boys with 50 in 25 innings against an also strong Mathy Monnissen (50-35).
Eddy Merckx scored an 18 run and beat Barry van Beers