Carom Series
DOETINCHEM - The Dutch league for top teams gets ready for the big clash on Saturday (19 April). A1 Biljarts De Veemarkt and Etikon, by far the two best teams in the classic games, meet each other for the showdown in A1's billiard home in Doetinchem.
The reigning Dutch champion Etikon, that took the European title last Sunday, is chasing for its tenth Dutch title. A1 Biljarts is the only competitor that's able to preventing a new Etikon success.
Willem Siebelink, A1's teamleader, says in the days before the top match: ,,We are with our strongest line-up to play this match, but of course Etikon has the better chances. Only our best form will be good enough to pick up the title for the first time in thirty years.''
The team boss expects a full house at the Veemarkt for the season's highlight.
In December last year, Etikon was defeated in its own house in Haarlo unexpectedly twice 4-2 by A1 Biljarts. ,,We were surprised by A1's line-up in the double with Frédéric Caudron playing 71/2 instead of one cushion'', stated Dinand Princen, the team boss of Etikon. ,,That's the reason for our double loss.''
For this Saturday's match, Dinand Prinsen doesn't want to reveal his tactic. ,,I can't say how we will play. We are going to talk about that with the players in the upcoming days.''
The opponent with Frédéric Caudron, Raymund Swertz and Michel van Silfhout is strong in all disciplins, of course, so it will depend on the little details.''
,,We have to win at least one match to keep it in our own hands. Jean-Paul de Bruijn , Patrick Niessen and Henri Tilleman proved at the European championships in Ronchin last week that they have the good form. They are sharp enough to shine in this important match.''
Jean Paul de Bruijn took a short holiday in Bretagne between two weekends and loaded up the battery for next Saturday.
The first match in De Veemarkt, Doetinchem, is Saturday at 11.00.
The top match is played in the penultimate round of the competition, followed by the last round on May 3. A1 Biljarts then plays the away match against BIOS/Blitz, Etikon plays at home against Biljartkeu.nl/sbc Vink.
This weekend is the program:
A1 Biljarts-Etikon
Biljartkeu.nl/sbc Vink-De Graafschap Biljarts
Dibo-the City-BC Arnhem
Wellse Vaert-BIOS/Blitz optics.
The rankings:
1 Etikon with 42 points and a match balance of 126-18
2 A1 Biljarts with 42 points and 103-41
3 BC Arnhem 26 points
4 Dibo the City 25 points
5 Biljartkeu.nl/sbc Vink 24 points
6 Wellse Vaert 17 points
7 BIOS/Blitz 10 points
8 De Graafschap Biljarts 6 points.