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Tension-filled last matches in Dutch league

04/13/2014

Published by frits bakker

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© © Harry van Nijlen/Kozoom
Frédéric Caudron in his last season's match

KWADENDAMME - A tremendous climax on the final day of the "Eredivisie" 3-cushion, tension-filled last matches and a surprise: De Distel Biljarts, already considered out of it, still into the play-offs as fourth team, together with Dallinga/Frans Bevers, the invincible frontrunner, and De Heeren/Millers and Pressplate/Machielsen.fa.

What if Ronny Daniels had given the closing stages of his match with Gerwin Valentijn even more flourish, and from 49-41 had not produced a run of seven but one of nine, to win?

In that scenario, not De Distel Biljarts would have made the last four, but Holland Mineraal. HM played with a weakened team but did well (4-4) against De Heeren. But now that Valentijn still won in the end (50-49), De Distel took the victory in Kwadendamme by 6-2, ended on the same number of points as Holland Mineraal, the team from Brabant having the better game point percentage.

Holland Mineraal gave it their all in this thriller of a league finish: the team from Lochem played without Murat Naci Coklu and Stefan Galla on Saturday, but with the strong Turk on Sunday. On Saturday they beat another rival (Capelle de Terp) 5-3. On Sunday, Jelle Pijl (beats van Kuyk) and Stefan Spilleman (beats van Uum) managed a surprising draw in Heerhugowaard.

The star players won for De Heeren: Dick Jaspers in the best match of the day, beating Coklu 50-40 in 17. Anno de Kleine could not cope against Eddy Merckx: 50-35 in 25.

Pressplate/Machielsen was now safe into the last four, having recorded a win at home on Saturday against Garage Verbrugge, and even getting full points on Sunday when they beat A1 Biljarts. Roland Forthomme was the only one who lost in that encounter, (to Raimond Burgman, 50-30 in 25), Peter Ceulemans got the better of Martien van der Spoel (50-44 in 28) and Barry van Beers beat Henk Blauwblomme (45-39).

Dallinga/Frans Bevers closed the season with a stellar performance by Frédéric Caudron on Saturday. The world champion struggled for 10 innings (15-11 in 10 to Francis Forton), but then pulled away with consecutive runs of 13 and 16, leaving his opponent gasping for air.

,,I get a single trip to the table, and Frédéric is thirty points away from me. That is just outrageous'', said Forton later.

Dallinga scored the win even with a weakened team: Glenn Hofman and Jerry Hermans also won their matches, only Raymund Swertz had to concede a draw to Jens van Dam. Kees Wittens played his last match in the highest league. ,,I am too busy with my work, and can't find enough time to practice, to compete on this level.''

On Sunday, Jerry Hermans lost his unbeaten status as a substitute when he was beaten by Ad Koorevaar in the away match against Capelle De Terp (4-4). Caudron defeated Spoormans , Hoffman bested Bitalis. The fourth table was a walk over for Capelle, because Meerten Dallinga still is in hospital after his bike accident and therefore could not play.

Eddy Leppens , Peter De Backer and Jean Paul de Bruijn had to play in foreign countries.

In the team of Van Wanrooij/Transport  both Kurt Ceulemans and Ad Broeders made runs of fourteen.

Dallinga/Frans Bevers finished off the season with 39 points ahead of De Heeren 32 , Pressplate 30 and De Distel 28 points . Holland Mineraal Holland had the same points (28) , but a less match balance (100-76 for De Distel, 98-78 Holland Mineraal).

Garage Verbrugge Hyundai (10 points) and Aardexpress (3) are the two last teams in the ranking.

‘s Landswelvaren moves from Kwadendamme  and makes a new start in De Reseda in Sas van Gent.

The semi-finals in the playoffs probably will be played as follows:

Dallinga – De Distel on May 8 in Sluiskil and on May 10 in Roosendaal.

De Heeren-Pressplate between 5 and 8 May.

The final days are 23 and 25 May.

The individual ranking on average (and matches played):

1 Dick Jaspers 1.993 (13)

2 Frédérick Caudron 1.921 (15)

3 Eddy Leppens 1.822 (14)

4 Peter De Backer 1.636 (9)

5 Raimond Burgman 1.616 (22)

6 Roland Forthomme 1.695 (22)

7 Stefan Galla 1.572 (15)

8 Murat Naci Coklu 1.517 (8)

9 Eddy Merckx 1.515 (22)

10 Glenn Hofman 1.511 (20)

11 Jef Philipoom 1.481 (22)

12 Peter Ceulemans 1.462 (22)

13 Barry van Beers 1.461 (22)

14 Frans van Kuyk 1.433 (22)

15 Jean Paul de Bruijn 1.409 (18).

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