HC Bloemendaal, Kampong, Klein Zwitserland and Den Bosch all advanced to the men’s semi-finals of the ABN AMRO Cup as the Dutch season opened its doors to the 2024/25 season.
Reigning champions Rotterdam, however, bowed out, ending their two year reign. It came on the weekend they announced Marc Recasens as their latest new signing, moving over from Real Club de Polo.
They drew both their games in Barendrecht but fell in a shoot-out to KZ before winning another shoot-out against HDM.
Bloemendaal picked up 2-1 wins over both AH&BC Amsterdam and SCHC with Nathan Ephraums scoring his first goal for the club in the latter game. Marc Miralles (pictured) and Caseper van der Veen were among the other scorers.
At HOCO, Thierry Brinkman opened his account for Den Bosch in a 2-2 result against Oranje-Rood. Den Bosch won the shoot-out and then defeated Tilburg 1-0 thanks to a Tijn van Groesen goal.
Kampong went through with a 1-0 win over Nijmegen and then a shoot-out victory against Hurley.
On the women’s side, Kampong, Pinoké, Hurley and Oranje-Rood all made it through to next Friday’s semi-finals with the final set to take place on Sunday in HC Rotterdam.
Pinoké outdid Amsterdam 3-1 with Tessa Beetsma’s double – in her first formal outing for the club since moving from HDM – making the difference. Bente Jager’s goal helped them defeat Huizen 1-0.
Hurley won a straight battle with SCHC in Houten 2-1 with goals from Fleur Loomans and Michelle van der Drift to make the semi-finals.
Similarly, Oranje-Rood beat Tilburg 2-1 via Janneke van de Venne and Margje van der Loo. Kampong were the most comfortable winners across all the groups as they defeated HGC 4-0 and Rotterdam 2-0.
Kampong will play Hurley on Friday in Berkel en Rodenrijs at 6pm with Pinoké facing Oranje-Rood at 8pm.
