ABC BRADFORD

Cuedos Club, Bradford (Sunday 13th December 1998)

Bradford saw another good gathering of 43 top players, from which Paul Bennett emerged supreme for the first time this season. The
early rounds saw fine performances by Mark Hirst, who had a break of
118 in defeating Paul Devitt, and Paul Dunning who ran in breaks of
94 and 53 in his win over D. Richardson. Dennis Marr was involved in
the closest finish with a one point victory over Gary Rogers.
The usual Teesside contingent were soon depleted after early defeats of
Darren Kell, Lee Lagan and Mark Hatton, leaving Bennett as their sole
representative. Neal Rewhorn progressed at the expense of David Smith
and Peter Shelley, making century breaks in each game.

Reaching the quarter finals, Paul Bennett began to strike his best form
with breaks of 154 and 106 to record the day´s highest aggregate of
565 and see off the challenge of Joe Bird. He then swept aside David
Nichols with the day´s highest break of 205, adding runs of 120 and 60
to leave his opponent no chance of recovery. In the other semi-final
Paul Dunning contested an exciting finish with Neal Rewhorn, emerging
victorious by a single point.

The final saw Bennett again in supreme form as be passed the 500
aggregate for the third consecutive game, to win with some ease, making
breaks of 102 and 95 in the process.

The Plate was won by Lee Lagan who included a break of 197 and a
victory over Darren Kell along the way. He defeated York´s Gary Rogers
in the final, who also had a good break of 132 in his semi-final win
over Paul Devitt.