3-Cushion
SLUISKIL/UDEN - The team boss of SIS Schoonmaak, the high favourite, knows in advance what is expected of him and the team. It is the title in the highest three-cushion league that counts and nothing else. Jan van de Vorle carries out what the real team owner, Carl Verhoeven, has mapped out. The starting point is: leader as of the start and champion in the end. Carl's top team owes it to its reputation with such a line-up of top players.
This Sunday, SIS plays a home game against DKM Tools. Dick Jaspers and Eddy Merckx are offered a day off, the German competition is a nice alternative for both. ''We do everything in consultation with all players'', says the team manager about the line-up for Sunday. ''The four players for Sunday have promised me that they don't need 'those two' for this match.'' That's how it works in a team that chases the very best, even more than Ajax in football. Carl Verhoeven himself adds: ''The agreement is that Merckx plays at least sixteen matches, just like the other four players. Only Jaspers plays less, I think eight to ten.''
And yet, DKM Tools, with Roland Uijtdewillegen and Joey de Kok among others, is not to be underestimated at all, because didn't the Oosterhout team play a draw last week against bigger brother Team Eekhoorn?
Ruben Legazpi is one of the striking players in the third round after his victory in the Kozoom Challenge last week. There, the Spaniard defeated three world class players in a row: Jaspers, Zanetti and Merckx. He is the leader at Cues&Darts this Sunday, where Robinson Morales was the captain last week. Pierre Soumagne plays in second place again, just like last week, now against J&F Auto's/Den Haag, where Jeffrey Jorissen was the best man in the second round with 40 in 15 innings. That will be a top billings: Jorissen-Legazpi.
Dekker Keukens wants revenge for a weak day and plays at home against 't Hartje. Team Eekhoorn faces Zundert at home, two teams that want to win in order to make the jump to the leading group. A1/DPC should certainly not underestimate Aartsbouw, which has not started too well, although the Brabant was powerless against Dallinga last week.
And Dallinga.com itself, the leader in match points and game scores after two rounds, plays its second home game against the unpredictable Bousema Lochem. Jean Paul de Bruijn is the revelation of the season start and now faces Johan Loncelle, the strong Belgian. Berry Dallinga has gained confidence with his victory over Ludo Kools. This Sunday, he meets the Amsterdam Frans van Schaik, the one and only. A nice match, hopefully for an enthusiastic home crowd.
The line-up for Sunday:
J&F Auto's/Den Haag-Cues&Darts/Apollo
Jeffrey Jorissen-Ruben Legazpi
Barry van Beers-Pierre Soumagne
Therese Klompenhouwer-Wesley de Jaeger
Herman van Daalen-Huub Wilkowski
Dekker Keukens-'t Hartje van Oosterhout
Ad Koorevaar-Ismail Yasin
Gerwin Valentijn-Davy van Havere
John Tijssens-Harrie van de Ven
Henk Blauwblomme-Frank Martens
SIS Schoonmaak-DKM Tools
Jean van Erp-Roland Uijtdewillegen
Raimond Burgman-Jack Wijnen
Martien van der Spoel-Joey de Kok
Raymund Swertz-Eddy Willems
Team Eekhoorn-STZ Zundert
Frans van Kuyk-Roland Forthomme
Peter Ceulemans-Thorsten Frings
Kurt Ceulemans-Francis Forton
Jerry Hermans-Rik van Beers
A1 DPC/De Kuul-Aartsbouw Sprundel
Dave Christiani-Dirk Weeremans
Jelle Pijl-Ronny Brants
Richard Bitalis-Ludo Kools
Kay de Zwart-Tom Persyn
Dallinga.com-Bousema Lochem
Jean Paul de Bruijn-Johan Loncelle
Peter De Backer-Gokhan Salman
Steven van Acker-Anno de Kleine
Berry Dallinga-Frans van Schaik