OOSTERHOUT – The Dutch premier league three-cushion heads into the third round with an absolute top match: Caudron-Jaspers. Two teams face off this Sunday afternoon, with Babbelz vying for the top spots and Paperclips still looking for match points at the bottom. Cues&Darts and Aartsbouw lead the rankings with four match points, the closest rivals with three are Babbelz and Eekhoorn. Babbelz café in Oosterhout is gearing up for the top match between two world-class players. This time, Caudron is the favorite, because the Belgian star had an excellent start to the season, while Dick Jaspers's standings are still doubly blank due to losses to Merckx and De Bruijn. So, the top match of the league round will be a close call. What makes it even more exciting is that there some important weeks coming up: the World Cup and the World Championship in Belgium, organized by Kurt Ceulemans' team, are just around the corner. So let’s say, a good test of form for Jaspers and Caudron.
Cues&Darts and Zundert, just half an hour from each others, will meet in the top division. The Tilburg side plays a home game, while Zundert's loyal supporters won't hesitate to attend the away match. The top match is Glenn Hofman versus Roland Forthomme, two players who know each other very well. Ruben Legazpi will be joining Cues, and Huub Wilkowski and Joey de Kok play in the other positions. Zundert will field Sam van Etten, Thorsten Frings, and Francis Forton.
Two teams with playoff ambitions meet in the Aartsbouw billiard arena. The matches on the schedule are what make the premier league so attractive. Eddy Merckx, in impeccable form these first few weeks, will play against Nick Polychronopoulos, Barry van Beers against Peter Ceulemans, Wesley de Jaeger against Frans van Kuyk, and Ronny Brants against Jerry Hermans. Bousema/JBScues and SIS Vervoort aren't exactly in the winning mood yet. The cup winner is playing a home match and could qualify for the sub-top, SIS is looking for its first win. Martin Horn plays against Jean van Erp on center court. Jorissen-Burgman is always a prestigious match. After a minor misstep, Dallinga is looking to take the road to higher levels in the home match against Burgmans Biljarts. De Bruijn, De Backer, Van Acker, and Dallinga form the traditional home team, while Burgmans' challengers are Löwe, Bart Ceulemans, Kivits (a revelation at the season start), and Roijers. RCN Nieuwegein is fielding its Dutch/Belgian combination against Harwig, which is still at the bottom of the table without a win. The debutant is playing with two Germans and two Dutch players, making both teams international on this third day.
The lineups are:
Team Babbelz-Paperclip
Frédéric Caudron-Dick Jaspers
Berkay Karakurt-Anno de Kleine
Davy van Havere-Dan Breur
Jack Wijnen-Peter van Lieshout
Cues&Darts/Xtreme-STZ Zundert
Glenn Hofman-Roland Forthomme
Ruben Legazpi-Sam van Etten
Huub Wilkowski-Thorsten Frings
Joey de Kok-Francis Forton
Dallinga.com-Burgmans Billiards
Jean Paul de Bruijn-Tom Löwe
Peter De Backer-Bart Ceulemans
Steven van Acker-Erwin Kivits
Berry Dallinga-Johan Roijers
Aartsbouw/Domicili-Team Eekhoorn
Eddy Merckx-Nick Polychronopoulos
Barry van Beers-Peter Ceulemans
Wesley de Jaeger-Frans van Kuyk
Ronny Brants-Jerry Hermans
RCN Nieuwegein-Harwig/OERbesitas
Dave Christiani-Andreas Niehaus
Gerwin Valentijn-Rob Lamboo
Philippe Vandendriessche-Tobias Bouerdick
Henk Blauwblomme-Stefan Lenting
Bousema/JBSCues-SIS/Vervoort
Martin Horn-Jean van Erp
Jeffrey Jorissen-Raimond Burgman
Johan Loncelle-Martien van der Spoel
Frans van Schaik-Harrie van de Ven
