3-Cushion
HALLE-ZOERSEL - It came within an inch or so of a sensational outcome with Dirk Weeremans as the player who brought the league end to a boil. De Goeie Queue, leader in the league with only two matches to go and just one point ahead of BC Deurne, played the away match against De Ploeg 2 in the penultimate round. The only mission for the Salpho boys? Take the win and bring it home.
But how close was Dirk Weeremans to a win against Eddy Leppens, what would have brought the final score of the match to 4-4 and had given the league end a sensational end. With a win of Dirk Weeremans, the leader (De Goeie Queue) would have lost an important match point and BC Deurne (8-0 win) could come alongside. However, it did not happen.
That crucial match between Weeremans and Leppens was the big match in the billiards center of De Ploeg. The home player had a strong start, Leppens did much less and was twelve points down at the break: 31-19. ,,I didn't have the best feel and got some bad positions, but I remained very calm'', said Leppens afterwards. Around the break he could make a run of nine, bringing the score to 31-31 in 20.
With 48-46 on the scoreboard, Weeremans had the best chances for the win. The man from Wuustwezel failed to make his last points. And when Leppens finished, Weeremans could only make one point from the spots (50-49). ,,We still have the title chances in our own hands'', said Leppens, ,,but I could have lost this match in 42 innings.''
Dirk Weeremans mourned: ,,I was almost the entire match on the lead, but 'the motor' refused at the end, that's really a pity for us.''
De Goeie Queue has not hoisted the flag, because there's another tough game on the last day of the league: the home match against BC Herentals, with Christian Rudolph, Dave Christiani, Leon Smolders and Geert Meylemans a feared opponent.
Frédéric Caudron was once again the best man of the 21st match day with his game against Thorsten Frings, 50-32 in 17 innings. Both players balanced until 20-20, then Caudron ran out with eight and although Frings continued to play very well, Caudron sparkled with a sublime victory.
Peter Ceulemans had not a best start facing Tom Persijn, looked at a small deficit and then found his rhythm for the important gains: 42-31 in 26. Only Michel van Camp lost his match for De Goeie Queue, 42-30 in 36 against Eddy Willems.
Mister 100 Lier had two heavyweights at the billiards in the home match against BC Herentals; it was not good enough for an important point. Raymond Ceulemans was the only clear winner in the team with 42-21 against Leon Smolders (1.500, run 13 ). Kurt Ceulemans was kicked down playing two average: he met a slightly better Christian Rudolph (50-48 in 24). Bart Ceulemans (50-41 against Christiani) and Koen (42-35 against Meylemans) also lost, so Herentals took the 6-2 win.
BC Deurne recorded the maximum 8-0 score in its duel with the already degraded Kortrijk team. Ludo Dielis signed for the best average (1.826), Dick Jaspers (1.785), Eddy Merckx (0.892) and Jean Paul de Bruijn (1.555) dashed off to a 1.373 team average.
The decision about degradation for a second team, together with Kortrijk, will be on the last day of competition. Mr. 100 Lier and De Ploeg 2 are still in danger after their losses. Op de Meir is only one point down and plays tonight (Tuesday) at home against De Witte Molen.