Will the Oranje-Rood women lose their safe ninth spot to HDM or Rotterdam? Will the SCHC men still avoid the playoffs? And will the Amsterdam women and Kampong men grab the last ticket for the playoffs next weekend? With two rounds of play to go, the Tulip big league is nearing its denouement.
Battle for playoffs and relegation Ladies
9. Oranje-Rood 20-15
Oranje-Rood has the best papers to avoid the play-outs. The Eindhoven players are in a safe ninth place and are the only team in the lower regions that no longer faces a top club. Oranje-Rood plays HGC on Sunday. Especially the confrontation with Rotterdam next week, in the last round, could be interesting: the gap between the two teams is currently three points. The goal difference is currently in disadvantage of Oranje-Rood.
Remaining program:
HGC-Orange-Rood
Orange-Rood-Rotterdam
10. HDM 20-14
HDM also still has a chance to retain its title. The Hague formation has to hope that Oranje-Rood loses points. Moreover, Diederik van Weel’s team has a more difficult schedule than Eindhoven with Tilburg at home and SCHC away.
Remaining program:
HDM-Tilburg
SCHC-HDM
11. Rotterdam 20-12
Rotterdam, which faces a tough task on Sunday against SCHC, will undoubtedly have its sights set on the final round of the competition: the confrontation with Oranje-Rood. The gap between the two teams is currently three points. Oranje-Rood has one more match won. The goal difference is currently five goals in favor of Rotterdam. However, if the Eindhoven team falls further behind next weekend, Jordy van der Waart’s team cannot avoid participation in the playoffs.
Remaining program:
Rotterdam-SCHC
Oranje-Rood-Rotterdam
12. Huizen 20-6
For Huizen it is clear: the club will be relegated. Although coach Donald Drost let loose the calculator last week, in the Noordhollands Dagblad. ‘If we win twice by big numbers and Rotterdam loses by big numbers, everything is still possible,’ he joked.
Remaining program:
Den Bosch-Huizen
Huizen-Amsterdam
HDM, under Diederik van Weel, must pull out all the stops to avoid participation in the playoffs. Photo: Willem Vernes
Battle for play-outs and relegation Men
9. HDM 20-16
HDM can no longer be directly relegated and also has a good chance of avoiding the play-outs. With Klein Zwitserland-out and Oranje-Rood-home, the team from The Hague has an easier schedule than SCHC, the only team that can still overtake them. HDM currently has a three-point lead over Stichtsche.
Remaining program:
Klein Zwitserland-HDM
HDM-Orange-Rood
10. SCHC 20-13
SCHC has a tough schedule ahead of them: the Bilthoveners first face Rotterdam and then Kampong. Stichtsche must win at least one of these matches to close the gap with number nine HDM. Otherwise, the play-outs await.
Remaining program:
SCHC-Rotterdam
Kampong-SCHC
Hurley 20-8
Hurley is focused on avoiding direct relegation. All indications are that the final match at home against direct rival Nijmegen will bring the decision, unless Hurley manages to stunt against Pinoké on Saturday. Hurley has a three-point lead over bottom-placed Nijmegen.
Remaining schedule:
Pinoké-Hurley
Hurley-Nijmegen
12.Nijmegen 20-5
Also for Nijmegen everything seems to turn out for the last matchday: the confrontation with Hurley. The chance to close the gap with three points. Goal difference will not be the problem: Nijmegen has a much better goal difference than Hurley.
Remaining program:
Nijmegen-Kampong
Hurley-Nijmegen
At Nijmegen everything seems to turn out for the last matchday: the confrontation with Hurley. Photo: Jan Kruijdenberg
Battle for the play-offs Ladies
4. Amsterdam 20-39
Amsterdam, which holds a five-point lead over Kampong, has the fourth and final ticket to the playoffs all but secured. With a win over Pinoké, the number three in the league, qualification is a fact. Otherwise, a retake against Huizen will follow next week.
Remaining program:
Amsterdam-Pinoké
Huizen-Amsterdam
5. Kampong 20-34
In theory Kampong still has a chance to catch up with Amsterdam, but Kai de Jager’s team already threw in the towel last weekend. Kampong failed in a direct duel with Amsterdam to reduce the deficit to five points (2-2). As a result, a miracle will have to happen if Kampong wants to secure a spot in the top four.
Remaining program:
Hurley-Kampong
Kampong-HGC
Amsterdam played a 2-2 draw against Kampong on Sunday, meaning a miracle is needed if Kampong wants to finish fourth. Photo: Bart Scheulderman
Battle for playoffs Men
4.Kampong 20-38
As with the women, the battle for the fourth spot with the men seems decided. Kampong has a four-point lead over both Oranje-Rood and Rotterdam. A win over Nijmegen, the bottom of the league, will make qualification a reality. Otherwise, a retake follows a week later against SCHC, the current number ten of the rankings.
Remaining program:
Nijmegen-Kampong
Kampong-SCHC
Oranje-Rood 20-34
Oranje-Rood will have to play very tough to make the playoffs, trailing Kampong by four points.
Remaining program:
Oranje-Rood-Den Bosch
HDM-Orange-Rood
Rotterdam 20-34
What goes for Oranje-Rood also goes for Rotterdam. Actually, Rotterdam still has a chance of the fourth spot only in theory.
Remaining program:
SCHC-Rotterdam
Rotterdam-Klein Zwitserland
Kampong can secure a spot in the last four on Saturday against Nijmegen. Photo: Bart Scheulderman.
by Hockey.nl
