CIU NATIONAL BILLIARDS Championship

Greasborough WMC, Rotherham

Saturday 25th April 1998

There was good support for both players in the spacious billiard room of Greasborough WMC. However, Darren Kell's followers had little to cheer throughout the first session as his breaks frequently broke down prematurely as he struggled to control his positional play. Taking advantage of this, and helped by a break of 57, Rewhorn had reached the 200 mark while his opponent was still back on 82.

Never one to drop his head when playing below his own high standards, Kell fought back with characteristic tenacity, giving his opponent little opportunity to build on his lead, as he gradually clawed back the deficit.

A break of 51 helped him to a establish a lead of over fifty points, but this was reduced to just 22 by a break of 32 unfinished from Rewhorn, which took him into the interval.

Kell's sessional average of 10.4 was less than half the figure he had recorded at the same stage in last year's final. This reflected his struggle to find his form and the resulting liberal use of safety tactics.

Returning after the interval, Neal, having discarded the Coke he had nursed throughout the first session in favour of a pint of lager, took up the perfect position he had left and continued his break for a further 14 minutes, taking it to 179. Now playing an inspired game, he followed this break with another of 115 leaving Darren trailing by 230 points and only having had one visit to the table in the first 30 minutes of the session!

CIU Champion Neal Rewhorn (centre) with Darren Kell and CIU respresentative Don MacMahon.

Rather than being disheartened, Darren responded with a break of 89—his highest of the match. However another fine effort of 91 by Neal gave him back a commanding lead of 220 points and with less than 40 minutes of the match remaining, Kell must have known that his reign as champion was over. Even so, he continued to fight until the final bell and with breaks of CIU Champion Neal Rewhorn (centre) with Darren Kell and CIU representative Don MacMahon 74 and 66 managed to reduce the final deficit to 119 points.

Rewhorn's well-deserved victory removed the CIU trophy from its seemingly permanent home in Teesside, for the first time since 1989. With his fine break of 179, Rewhorn, who had eliminated Paul Bennett in the semi-final, also deprived him of the £50 highest break prize, so exacting some financial revenge for his earlier defeat in the English Championship.

Neal also collected £300 as the winner's prize, while Darren took some consolation in a cheque for £200 as the runner-up.