3-Cushion
SLUISKIL - The second round in the first league of three cushion in the Netherlands will be marked by a much discussed bump. The leader in the ranking, meets an opponent on Sunday (September 28) that will perform with a second-choice team. MCR De Uitspanning will not show up with its strongest players to face the dream team in the competition as a lack of interest to play against Caudron, Jaspers, Merckx and De Bruijn.
The audience, coming for matches like Caudron-Leppens, Jaspers-Christiani and Merckx-Bitalis, is the loser: Dallinga with its world stars will win the match, probably with an 8-0 score. The opponent comes to the arena with four players doomed to lose.
Is the Dallinga already paying the toll for its fame? And does De Uitspanning send out a signal that the matches against Dallinga, the absolute title favorite, are not taken seriously?
The team will play in Sluiskil with Sander Jonen, Randy Loenen, Nick Loenen and their father Peter Loenen. The strongest line-up with Eddy Leppens, Dave Christiani and Richard Bitalis is left home. Sander Jonen, the number one: ,,I understand that people do not like it that we come up with this team, but we and many other teams do not like to face a team with Caudron, Jaspers and even Eddy Merckx on three. We want to reach the playoffs like, but it's impossible to pick up some points in Sluiskil, even with our strong team. So I understand the sponsor, that he would rather save up the budget for other opponents.''
Ben Ouwendijk, the team leader, would prefer not to venture a statement, but says after some insistence: ,,Regarding the budget, I agree with the sponsor's decision not to play at full strength. But in sporting terms, I don't like the choice. I must say in all honesty that the players all agree with the decision.''
The leader in the league is Pressplate Machielsen fa, that played one match ahead against Reseda and triumphed 6-2. Roland Forthomme made a whirlwind start against Francis Forton (25-5), after the break the two Belgians were in balance. Forthomme could hold the gap: 50-27 in 22.
Peter Ceulemans and Ronny Daniels stayed until half the party fairly balanced (16-16). The better final shot came from the home player Ceulemans, who decided the match on 50-30 in 38.
Kees Wittens defeated Raymon Groot in a match which was only decided after 62 innings: 50-47. Barry van Beers faced a disadvantage at the break of his match against Jens van Dam (26-17 in 14), but eventually won 50-31 in 26.
The program for the second round on Sunday:
Post Luchtkanalen-HCR Prinsen:
Martin Horn-Christian Rudolph
Davy van Havere-Anno de Kleine
Henk Habraken-Markus Galla
Huub Wilkowski-Raymund Swertz
Holland Mineraal-Capelle de Terp:
Stefan Galla-Martin Spoormans
Frans van Schaik-Ad Koorevaar
Jelle Pijl-Emilio Sciacca
Stefan Spilleman-Marcel van Lieshout
A1 Biljarts-Biljartcafé Jorissen:
Raimond Burgman-Glenn Hofman
Martien van der Spoel-Jean van Erp
Henk Blauwblomme-Jeffrey Jorissen
Addy Wienk-Herman van Daalen
De Distel Biljarts-Van Wanrooy Transport
Jef Philipoom-Kurt Ceulemans
Frans van Kuijk-Frank Martens
Gerwin Valentijn-Harrie van de Ven
John Tyssens-Ad Broeders.