Play-outs (H): narrow win HDM, Laren down against Tilburg

After a spectacular game, Promotieklasse Tilburg pulled off the win in the Gooi. It was 4-3 for the visitors against Laren, which had to deal with a setback before the start of the match. Pelle Vos dropped out injured during the warm-up.

After a quiet opening phase, Tilburg took the lead after ten minutes. Tom Beddows forced a penalty stroke after his effort hit the feet of a Laren defender on the goal line. Top marksman Pim Haring remained cool from the spot and made it 0-1. Laren answered quickly in the second quarter through Quinten Moojen, who finished off a fine solo by Thomas Vis. The score was not on the board for long, as a penalty corner rebound by Taeke Nijziel gave Tilburg the lead again: 1-2.

After half-time, Laren took the initiative. A series of penalty corners initially yielded nothing, but Berend van Langeveld scored the equaliser with a field goal by shooting from close range. The home team then seemed to push on. A goal by Moojen was disallowed, while Tilburg goalkeeper Jan van Groesen distinguished himself with several saves, including a reflex that turned Valentijn Charbon's effort with his helmet.

The decision fell in a chaotic final phase. Thomas Vis put Laren ahead 3-2 from a penalty corner five minutes before time, but almost immediately Tilburg hit back through Haring, his second of the afternoon, this time from a corner. With 66 seconds left on the clock, Storm Poplar poked in the 3-4, giving Tilburg a precious victory and match point for promotion to the Hoofdklasse.

Penalty corner rain in The Hague

HDM took a first step towards retention with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Nijmegen. The Hoofdklasse side from The Hague were on top of the field and created a constant stream of danger, especially through penalty corners.

After an initial save by Nijmegen goalkeeper Rolf Diederen on a drag flick by Chris Taberima, the second Hague penalty corner was successful. Taberima dragged the ball in low and put HDM ahead after only six minutes.

The visitors' reply quickly followed. Nijmegen immediately cashed in its first penalty corner of the match. David Blom brought the score to 1-1 with a drag flick. After that a game unfolded in which HDM had the most initiative, but struggled to cash in on the many penalty corners. Even before half-time, Taberima had chances for his second goal, but each time Diederen was in the way.

HDM continued to press after the break. But the first chance was for Nijmegen. Cas Leenen was close to scoring 2-1, but slid a cross past. On several penalty corners, Taberima was not inside the lines, so Pepijn Schras took over. That too did not yield a goal. Nijmegen remained dangerous via the counter and saw a Kars Schreuders effort go narrowly wide.

As in Laren-Tilburg, the decision fell in the closing stages. After Diederen had turned away two shots by Taberima, Fabian Verzuu was the first to head in the second rebound: 2-1.