3-Cushion
BRUGES - The most notable match on the second day of the Belgian league finished with a victory for Henk Blauwblomme (Royal Bruges) against Roland Forthomme (Zanzibar). The number two star at the World Cup in Porto last weekend was defeated on Monday by Blauwblomme (50-44 in 34). Was he exhausted, Forthomme, after a tough and long week in Porto? ,,Or maybe Blauwblomme was too strong for him'', responded his opponent, Blauwblomme with a big smile.
The Zanzibar team did a very good job in Bruges, nevertheless, because Forthomme's three teammates took strong wins. They even did it with better averages than the team captain: Dave Christiani with 1.515, Kenny Miatton with 1.354 and Pierre Soumagne, one of the other prominent players in Porto, with 1.555. Therefor Zanzibar returned home with the full win.
The Belgian league has two unbeaten leaders after two rounds with the maximum points. De Goeie Queue without losing a match. The encounter with Op de Meir, on the first day, turned out into an 8-0, on Monday, the home team in the Salpho defeated BC Deurne, the main competitor, 8-0.
Besides Frédéric Caudron's prestigious victory over Torbjörn Blomdahl, 50-35 in 18 innings, 2777 average, the other matches were not that spectacular. Dick Jaspers beat Jef Philipoom 50-36 (30), Eddy Merckx bested Jean van Erp narrowly (42-39 in 31) and Jean Paul de Bruijn knocked down Davy van Havere 42-32, 28 innings. Caudron decided the match against Blomdahl in the last innings, when he finished with little runs, two times six, one time five in the last five innings. Jean van Erp recorded the highest run (7) in four matches.
Op de Meir took revenge for the 8-0 against De Goeie Queue. Eddy Leppens' defeated De Ploeg 1 with an impressive score (8-0). The captain himself was the best winner: 50-32 in 29 against Ronny Lindemann. Barry van Beers was only one point ahead at the finish line in his match against Huub Wilkowski.
Sint Truidense, the debutant, surprised in the away match against Biljartvrienden 5-3. Frédéric Mottet won the very tactical game against Raimond Burgman (50-45 in 45), John Tijssens and Thomas Broux played a draw in 22 innings, Johan Claessen defeated Paul Dumont on one point and Kurt Bruggeman left Hans van der Wurf far behind (42 -14 in 62).
De Ploeg 2 defeated BC Herentals (6-2), only Martin Horn took the win against Jaak Wijnen. Matthy Monnissen had an excellent competition start: he defeated Christian Rudolph 50-41 in 30 (1.666 average, run of twelve).
Bilart Express beat De Witte Molen 5-3. Glenn Hofman won the Dutch battle against Frans van Kuijk 50-39 in 36. Gerwin Valentijn defeated Francis Forton, Martin Spoormans was too strong for Ronnie Brants. Ad Broeders and Guy van Litsenborg played a draw.