NIEUWEGEIN - The leaders in the Buffalo league have switched positions again, on the twelfth day of play. Eureka Billard is the new top dog, after their 8-0 win over HCR Prinsen and Dallinga's minimal 3-5 home loss against Bousema Lochem. Medisch Centrum Breda is in a share of second place with Dallinga.
Jeffrey Jorissen was the shining star of the twelfth round. The player from The Hague used his home advantage to the full and waltzed over Bert van Manen: 40-11 in 14 with a closing run of twelve. It was not enough to help Buffalo to a win, though. All three other Buffalo players were beaten by their Burgmans opponents. Marco Janssen played a superior match against Glenn Hofman to win 40-30 in 24. Jean van Erp, who showed such great form in the past weeks, had no chance against Rik van Beers (40-27 in 32) and Johan Roijers completed the success of his team by beating Herman van Daalen 40-28 in 28.
The new leader Eureka Billard, dethroned two weeks ago by Dallinga, had shown weakness in the last round but now played like a strong collective against an inconsistent HCR Prinsen. The 8-0 on the scoreboard speaks volumes, even though Dave Christiani against Peter De Backer (40-35 in 24), Raimond Burgman against Jelle Pijl (40-34 in 20) and Francis Forton against Anno de Kleine (40-39 in 31) were close finishes. There was a clearer difference between John Tijssens and Raymund Swertz: 40-19 in 29.
A big surprise came from Zeeuws Vlaanderen, where Bousema from faraway Lochem came, saw and conquered. It must be said: the home team missed their two best players. Frédéric Caudron was in Korea, Jean Paul de Bruijn played in the German Bundesliga. Ronny Hazewinkel's team already had a 4-0 lead at halftime, after wins by Markus Galla, who ran two eights in the first two innings, beating newcomer Lesley Menheer (40-25 in 22) and Stefan Spilleman over Berry Dallinga (40-35 in 51). Full points were brought home by Therese Klompenhouwer. The female world champion faced Bart Ceulemans, and from 36-38 the Belgian ran four and out, but Therese made the important two in the equalizer.
Medisch Centrum Breda maintained its top-three position with a 6-2 victory over the always dangerous A1 Biljarts. Eddy Merckx was the only winner for the visitors: he beat Roland Forthomme 40-38 in 39. The points stayed in Brabant, thanks to Peter Ceulemans (40-25 in 23 against Gerwin Valentijn), Barry van Beers (40-31 in 21 against Martien van der Spoel) and Raimon Groot with 40-38 in 24 against Henk Blauwblomme.
Team Eekhoorn travelled to TOVV 2 and came home with a 6-2 victory. Best player was Kurt Ceulemans, who controlled Sander Jonen baas in a 40-19 in 29 match. Kay de Zwart was the surprise winner against Frans van Kuyk: 40-33 in 33.
TOVV/Royal Pro and its new lead player Birol Uymaz left 't Hartje/Van Wanrooy empty handed after a 6-2. Birol Uymaz in 20 innings, Frans van Schaik in 28 and Richard Bitalis in 24 were the winners for TOVV, Martin Spoormans was surprisingly defeated by Ad Koorevaar: 40-37 in 34.
Eureka Billard has the lead after twelve rounds, with 18 points, ahead of Dallinga and Medisch Centrum Breda with 17. HCR Prinsen is just in the top four with 15 points. The middle segment is headed by TOVV/Royal Pro, A1 Biljarts and Team Eekhoorn with 13 points.
Bousema Lochem climbs a spot thanks to their win, and TOVV2 is the red lantern.