3-Cushion
ZUNDERT - It was a lot to ask of Eddy Leppens and Dave Christiani: the Belgian and the Dutchman both played matches in the Bundesliga yesterday and today, for BCC Witten and Bergisch Gladbacher respectively. Following the Sunday morning match, they had to hurry to Zundert and represent De Uitspanning in the league match against Pressplate. The German matches in the early hours were not a huge success: Leppens lost big to Nikos Polychronopoulos (40-14 in 19 innings).
When the duo arrived in Den Hoek, things did not look too good. Both matches before the break were ongoing, but eventually lost by MCR De Uitspanning. Richard Bitalis was beaten by Barry van Beers (50-46 in 38) and Sander Jonen lost to Raymon Groot (50-41 in 43). With Leppens-Forthomme and Christiani-Ceulemans still to be played, the home team was leading 4-0. The number two on the league table however, took over in the second session. Eddy Leppens won 50-40 in 33, Christiani 50-37 in 32. ,,I had a bad start and I was trailing 24-11 after 19 innings'', said Leppens later. ,,Then I ran a nine, and from then on I kept scoring. I made my last 39 in 14 innings.''
Dave Christiani and Peter Ceulemans were close for a long time, but Christiani made the difference in the end. ,,It was a bad match, one I should try to quickly forget'', said Ceulemans, who had beaten Caudron in France only yesterday. Christiani agreed. ,,In Germany, on Saturday, I had a good focus, not so today.''
The draw will keep both teams in the top-4 for now, even if Pressplate Machielsen is now on the same number of match points as De Distel Biljarts: both teams are on 14 from 11 and share fourth place. Dallinga (8-0 win over Post Luchtkanalen), MCR De Uitspanning (4-4 against Pressplate) and Biljartcafé Jorissen (6-2 win over Van Wanrooy) are the top-3 with 19, 17 and 16 points.
The "Achterhoek" derby, in the middle of the table, was deservedly won by HCR Prinsen, it beat Holland Mineraal 6-2 in its own home.
,,We would have been happy with a point, but this is much better, and it was well deserved'', said Dinand Prinsen after the match. Ronny Hazewinkel of Holland Mineraal could hardly argue: ,,With the exception of Jelle Pijl, my players have not performed as I expected of them.''
The match was still open after boards three and four had played. Jelle Pijl was first struggling against Markus Galla, but played a strong second half and finished 50-41 in 30 innings. Anno de Kleine was initially trailing against Frans van Schaik, but turned the match around with a run of fourteen. The former Holland Mineraal player won in 28 innings, leaving Van Schaik on 28 points. Dave van Geel had an early lead against Stefan Spilleman: 25-14. The match dragged itself to the finish, van Geel victorious after 49 innings.
Jelle Pijl played a strong second half and defeated Markus Galla
The German opponents Christian Rudolph and Stefan Galla played a leapfrog match. Rudolph was leading 28-24 after 21, then Galla could hardly score until Rudolph was on 43, after 34 innings. Galla ran 9,8 and 3 to get back in the lead (48-47) but after 39 innings it was Rudolph who had the last laugh.
Other remarkable results from this eleventh round:
Jean Paul de Bruijn beats Celen in 25 innings.
Raimond Burgman beats Martin Spoormans 50-38 in 32 innings, his team A1 Biljarts beats red lantern Capelle-De Terp 8-0.
De Distel Biljarts connects to the top-4 after a decisive 8-0 against Ripla Recycling, pushing the team from Zeeland into the relegation zone.
Gerwin Valentijn shares the best match with Glenn Hofman, winning (against Jens van Dam) in 24 innings.
Glenn Hofman scores 48 in 18 against Kurt Ceulemans, but still needs six innings for his last two points.
Jean van Erp leads Frank Martens 38-17, only to see a 10-5-3 fightback. Van Erp still edges him: 50-49.