Dick Jaspers two caroms stronger than Caudron

WAALWIJK - The difference was only two points, but the minimum margin with wich Dick Jaspers defeated his rival Frédéric Caudron, decided over the full win in the topmatch in the Netherlands. The leader, Van Donge en De Roo, won the away match against the only competitor on top, Crystal Kelly, 6-2. Martin Horn (with a win over Raimond Burgman: 50-44) and Jean van Erp (50-39 against Raymond Ceulemans) took the victory before the break and lad the foundations for the later victory. But when Torbjörn Blomdahl, who just returned from a skiing holiday with his family, lost his game against Frans van Kuik with a large score (50-26 in 31 innings), Dick Jaspers had to make the decision in the match against Frédéric Caudron.

The contest, played for a full house, was fascinating until the end. Jaspers led sovereign for a long time, but on 45-33 Caudron came back with a run of thirteen, the highest of the match. He came up to 46-45, Jaspers responded with three, they both missed an easy shot, but eventually the number one of the world grabbed the win: 50-48 in 23.

The playoffs are therefore not in danger for Crystal Kelly. The team from Waalwijk, is six points behind Van Donge now, but is six points ahead on Delta and eight on Snellen Recycling. Team leader Piet Luck of Van Dponge is wondering when there will be at least certainty about the date and place of the playoffs. ,,Some people say the matches will be played in the Van der Valk hotel in Ridderkerk, but others say it's in the football stadium of FC Twente, where Twentevisie plays his home matches. We have a meeting at April 4 with the team leaders, we finally hope to hear something that day.''

This afternoon the battle for the positions three until seven was especially exciting. The contest for the other places in the play-offs is still open. Delta wasted one point in the duel with Emar, because Eddy Leppens lost to Francis Forton (50-46 in 27) and Jean Paul de Bruijn against Frank Martens (50-45 in 45). Berry Dallinga saved a point for Delta by beating Ad Brethren, who had to make two caroms in the equalizer, but he missed his last point.

Snellen Recycling crept one point closer to Delta by a 8-0 victory over Verbrugge Hyundai. Barry van Beers was the most remarkable player of the afternoon in Sluiskil. He defeated Kees Wittens 50-24 in only 25 innings. Eddy Merckx lost his match for TOVV, one of his exceptional losses last months. Anno de Kleine finished with an advantage of ten caroms (50-40 in 32). Twentevisie won his match against TOVV 5-3.

A1 Biljars defeated De Vrachtkar 8-0. Michael Nilsson showed himself stronger than Wesley Jaeger, on the fourth billiard there was a regular 50-0 on the score board, because Rob Mans from The Vrachtkar didn't show up for the duel with Addie Wienk.

John Tijssens (50 in 28 innings) and Jef Philipoom (50 in 29) were the stars for Dekker Keukens against DBL Holland. The team from Utrecht won 6-2, the opponent wasn't in the strongest composition. Stefan Galla and Jelle Pijl played at the billiards one and two. Murat Naci Coklu stayed in Japan for a tournament.