GZC Donk climbs to 1st place in Eredivisie

GZC Donk climbed atop the table after the first weekend of the Dutch League in 2023.

The new leader collected six points in the first two matches in the new year, beating the clubs that are contenders for the 1st place in the Eredivisie, as well as GZC – Polar Bears and ZPB H&L Productions.

2022/23 Dutch League, Day 11

GZC Donk – Polar Bears 12:9 (2:2, 3:3, 5:3, 2:1).
GZC Donk: Van der Weijden 3, Winkelhorst 3, Veenhuis 2, Van den Heuvel 2, Sjardijn 1, Van IJperen 1.
Polar Bears: Szoke 3, Ten Broek 2, Wijgers 2, Van der Horst 1, Roels 1.

ZVL-1886 Center – ZPB H&L Productions 11:11 (4:1, 2:6, 4:2, 1:2)
ZVL: Spijker 3, Brancatello 2, Haasnoot 2, Wijnhoven 1, Simac 1, Voorbvelt 1, Kincses 1.
ZPB: Van den Burg 2,Van der Velden 2, De Ruijter 1, Kuller 1, Van Niekerk 1, Van der Veen 1, Willemsen 1, Dentro 1.

Het Ravijn – UZSC 6:16 (3:4, 0:4, 2:3, 1:5).
Het Ravijn: Wouters 3, Karel 1, Ter Brake 1, Heitink 1.
UZSC: Willemsen 5, Kremers Taylor 3, Van den Bersselaar 2, Athymiratus 2, De Jong 1, Kastrop 1, Cvanciger 1, Schreuders 1.

PSV – ZV De Zaan 4:16 (3:4, 0:3, 0:5, 1:4)
PSV: Pijnenburg 1, Simons 1,Ritman 1, Metselaar 1.
ZV De Zaan: Corver 4, Janssen 3, Ketelaars 2, Meijn 2, Rempt 2, Brantjes 1, Van den Dobbelsteen 1, Mandolini 1.

GZC Donk – Polar Bears 12:9 (2:2, 3:3, 5:3, 2:1)
GZC Donk: Van der Weijden 3, Winkelhorst 3, Veenhuis 2, Van den Heuvel 2, Sjardijn 1, Van IJperen 1.
Polar Bears: Szoke 3, Ten Broek 2, Wijgers 2, Van der Horst 1, Roels 1.

AZC – De Ham 20:6 (7:1, 2:2, 5:0, 6:3)
AZC: Van den Heuvel 4, Filipovic 3, Lindhout 3, Nispeling 2, Reuten 2, Kombrink 1, De Zwaan 1, Rouwenhorst 1, Gemalmazoglu 1.
De Ham: De Groot 2, Sap 2, Van t Veer 1, Boorsma 1.

ZPC Amersfoort – De Linge/PCG 14:7 (3:2, 4:4, 4:0, 3:1)
ZPC Amersfoort: Van Mil 4, Van der Werve 3, Borcsok 2, Palotas 2, Muller 1, Nijhof 1, Slaghuis 1.
De Linge/PCG: Van Heuven 4, V.Visser 2, O. Visser 1.

RESCHEDULED MATCH

GZC Donk – ZPB H&L Productions 8:4 (2:1, 2:2, 1:0, 3:1).
GZC Donk: Van der Weijden 3, Winkelhorst 2, Van den Heuvel 1, Westerwoudt 1, Veenhuis 1.
ZPB: Van der Velden 2, Kuller 1, Willemsen 1.

In the 11th round, GZC beat Polar Bears (12:9). Polar Bears entered the new year as 1st-placed, but after this loss, the team from Ede dropped to the 3rd position. Each team scored five goals apiece in the first half (5:5). After the middle break, the Gouda-based team got up steam and scored four goals in a row to jump to 9:5, which was vital for their win.

On Sunday, GZC Donk welcomed ZPB H&L Productions. Like the day before, GZC secured the win in the second half. GZC dictated the pace, but the visitors chased them throughout the first three quarters. Before the final eight minutes, the score was 5:3. But GZC dominated in the fourth period and recorded an 8:4 win. Mart van der Weijden was the best scorer with three goals. He had the same output in the win over Polar Bears.

ZPB earned one point on the first water polo weekend in 2023. A day before visiting Gouda, ZPB played against ZVL-1886 Center in Leiden. The match ended in an 11:11 draw. ZVL started better and took a 4:1 lead. In the third period, the team from Leiden had a two-goal advantage (10:8). Still, ZPB earned a point, thanks to Ton van der Velden, who netted an equalizer three minutes before the final buzzer.

The other matches didn’t offer much excitement.

UZSC demolished reigning champion Het Ravijn (16:6). The title-holder, which has had big ups and downs this season, has to improve its shape before the LEN Challenger Cup quarterfinals against Turkish Enka on January 25 and February 8. Het Ravijn is the only Dutch team that still hasn’t finished its European campaign.

AZC showed no mercy to De Hamm (20:6) and climbed to 2nd place. De Zaan earned a 16:4 away victory over PSV.

ZPC Amersfoort beat De Linge/PCG 14:7. Only a goal separated the rivals at halftime (ZPC led 7:6), but ZPC ruled the field in the second half and didn’t let De Linge/PCG win its first points in the season.