Dutch final for teams in balance: 4-4 and 136-135

LOCHEM - The return of the play-offs in the Dutch three-cushion team league, in a double final between SIS Schoonmaak and Bousema Lochem, will turn into a completely open match. The two teams are tied 4-4 after the first match at Bousema, the margin in caroms is only one point in SIS favor: 136-135. German top player Martin Horn showed his team the way in the first match this Monday afternoon, in which he dominated Eddy Merckx 40-20 in 16 innings. Johan Loncelle also won for Bousema, for SIS, Raimond Burgman and Martien van der Spoel levelled the score.

The return match, in which SIS Schoonmaak thus defends a minimal lead, is played on Monday 20 June from 19.00. This Monday afternoon, almost 100 spectators were present for the first final in the play-offs.

The leader of the premier league in the regular competition, SIS Schoonmaak, that played without Dick Jaspers, had to swallow a bitter pill in the first of four matches. Martin Horn got off to a quick start against Eddy Merckx with a run of 12 in the third inning and held on to that lead until the end. The Belgian leader, who won the World Cup in Ho Chi Minh City just over a week ago, was only able to bring the score back slightly at the end of the match, but was left with a 20-point margin.

That damage was limited by SIS at the other match table before the break, as Martien van der Spoel won his match against Frans van Schaik 40-29 in 26 innings. Bousema went into the break 2-2 with a nine-point lead in caroms.

The second part started with a sovereign Jean van Erp against Belgian Johan Loncelle (23-3), but the Brabant's lead disappeared like snow in the sun after the break. The Belgian fought his way back into the match, returned to 24-10 down, 30-22 and even came back to 30-30. Van Erp totally lost his rhythm and confidence in the final part of the match and suffered an unexpected loss as a result of two final runs by Loncelle with 6 and 4: 40-36 in 22.

The final blow was dealt by Raymond Burgman, who attacked for SIS after 21-19 at the break and ran away from Anno de Kleine to 30-25, 38-25 and finally 40-26. Those last two scores brought SIS Schoonmaak exactly with one carom in the lead: 136 against 135.

Carl Verhoeven on behalf of SIS Schoonmaak and Ronny Hazenwinkel (Bousema Lochem) spoke about an exciting final. ''We have proven that we are a rightful finalist'', said the Bousema captain, who gives his team still chances for the return. Carl Verhoeven concluded: ''Fortunately, we were able to pick it up after Merckx' big loss to Horn, but it was a disappointment that Jean van Erp lost his comfortable lead. That means we have to finish it now at home.''

The results (Bousema-SIS):
Martin Horn-Eddy Merckx 40-20 in 16
Johan Loncelle-Jean van Erp 40-36 in 22
Anno de Kleine-Raimond Burgman 26-40 in 25
Frans van Schaik-Martien van der Spoel 29-40 in 26.

Many spectators for the first final in the play-offs