Play-outs (H): Tilburg earns promotion as HDM avoids relegation

Tilburg exploited the match point it had secured a day earlier with its win over Laren. In a match in which the tension was greater than the number of chances for a long time, Tilburg was the better team in the opening stages. However, no major opportunities remained. Laren then struck at its first penalty corner of the afternoon. Teun van Uunen pushed hard into the roof of the goal midway through the second quarter to give the visitors a 0-1 lead. With that, the score over two games was fully balanced again.

After half-time, the tension increased further. Tilburg urged for the equaliser, while Laren looked increasingly emphatically for the goal that would bring promotion closer. Both teams had chances from penalty corners, but goalkeepers Jan van Groesen and Estiaan Kriek kept their team on their toes. With 11 minutes left on the clock, the moment Tilburg were waiting for finally fell. Top marksman Pim Haring took advantage of a penalty corner to make it 1-1.

Laren then had to play all or nothing. The visitors even replaced goalkeeper Kriek with an extra player and were awarded several penalty corners in the final stages. Tilburg also survived a hectic final phase in which they were temporarily left with only eight players on the pitch after cards. However, a Laren goal did not materialise. As a result, it was party time after the final whistle for Tilburg, which returns to the Hoofdklasse. For Laren, the Promotieklasse awaits next season.

It's double celebration at HDM. Both the ladies and the men maintained themselves at the highest level. After the narrow 2-1 victory, the men travelled to Nijmegen on Sunday.

The home team started the match energetically. Kars Schreuders and Jorn Gerritsen went close in the opening stages, but failed to pass goalkeeper Luis Beckmann. At the other end, HDM also showed itself, although big chances were initially lacking.

Halfway through the second quarter the opening goal did come. After Nijmegen captain Gijs van Lith lost the ball, HDM made a quick switch and Fabian Verzuu backhanded the ball over goalkeeper Rolf Diederen: 0-1.

The goal made Nijmegen's task even harder. The home team needed to score twice to keep their eyes on promotion, but hardly found an opening in the well-organised Hague defence. HDM kept control and had opportunities to extend the margin via several penalty corners. Nijmegen also had chances from penalty corners, but Beckmann did not budge.

In the last quarter, HDM decided the duel for good. Guus van den Boezem doubled the lead by finishing with a cool shot eye to eye with Diederen. Nijmegen then tried to force something by bringing the goalkeeper to the side. A fine tip-in by Tijn Stuve resulted in a 1-2 draw, but the home team got no further.

After Chris Taberima scored the 1-3 from a penalty stroke, The Hague could start celebrating. Thanks to two wins in the play-offs, HDM will also play in the Hoofdklasse next season, while Nijmegen will play in the Promotieklasse again.