3-Cushion
HEERHUGOWAARD - The champion team of Dallinga/Frans Bevers is in a perfect position to prolong its title in the premier league three cushion tomorrow in Sluiskil. The Zeeland team defeated its opponent De Heeren/Miller Biljarts in the away match of the Dutch play-offs today 6-2.
The team leaders Frédéric Caudron and Eddy Leppens notched the win for their team after Glenn Hoffman had won his match before the break.
Eddy Leppens, who won his match against Eddy Merckx, said about the chances for his team: ,,We are in a very good position now to finish it off in Sluiskil tomorrow (Sunday). The mission is, that we must win at least one match in the return. I think Glenn Hofman can beat Dick van Uum and Frédéric Caudron did not lose against Dick Jaspers for a long time.''
Jean Paul de Bruijn, who faced Frans van Kuijk, was in the away match at De Heeren the only one who lost his match for the champions. He fought back after trailing 21-9 at the start, but his opponent had the better final shot: 45-39 in 27.
The score was balanced by Glenn Hofman, who plays his last matches for the team and dominated the match against Dick van Uum 45-32 in 29.
Frédéric Caudron had one of his sparkling starts in his match against Dick Jaspers with a run of nineteen in the second inning and 24 points in three innings. Dick Jaspers seemed to be knocked down, but had a promising come-back. Caudron survived the attack and won 50-47 in 24 innings.
Eddy Leppens against Eddy Merckx was a thrilling match in which two players, who meet so many times in a year, struggled for the win until the last innings. ,,We played very defending with many bad positions for both of us'', said Leppens later.
On a 38-34 score, in favor of Merckx, Leppens dashed to the finish in five innings, Merckx couldn't score in that final part of the game (50-38 in 38).
Dallinga leads thus for the return 6-2 and is 22 caroms ahead. The return match in Sluiskil starts at 13.00 tomorrow and will be broadcast live by Kozoom.