Cardiff City Battle Bravely but Fall to Worcester Wolves

Cardiff City put up a spirited fight on the road against Worcester Wolves but ultimately fell 88-62 in an intense NBL Division Two encounter. The final scoreline didn’t reflect the resilience and moments of quality from City, who led the game on multiple occasions before Worcester pulled away in the latter stages.

From the outset, Cardiff showed they weren’t in Worcester just to make up the numbers. The visitors started aggressively, keeping pace with the Wolves and even snatching the lead early on. A strong first quarter saw them go toe-to-toe with their hosts, trailing just 20-18 after ten minutes.

The second quarter followed a similar pattern, with Cardiff finding scoring contributions across the roster. Ben Wilks (10 points, 6 rebounds) and David Welsh (12 points, 4 assists) were instrumental in keeping City competitive. Despite their efforts, Worcester capitalised on second-chance opportunities and fast breaks, edging ahead by halftime, 39-32.

The real turning point came in the third quarter, where Cardiff momentarily regained momentum. They closed the gap, threatening to retake the lead multiple times. However, a crucial scoring run from Worcester – led by Milary Nannie (18 points) and Wilfrid Sainte (17 points, 10 rebounds) – saw City’s hopes fade.

As fatigue set in, Worcester’s depth proved decisive. The Wolves’ relentless pressure forced turnovers, leading to transition points that widened the gap. Cardiff fought until the final buzzer but struggled to match the home side’s efficiency, particularly from beyond the arc.

Despite the defeat, there were plenty of positives for Cardiff. They led the game on four different occasions and held their own for significant periods, even tying the contest five times. Their grit and determination were evident, and while the result wasn’t in their favour, the performance showed clear progress.

Coach Siddiquillah Khan praised his players’ effort:

"We competed hard and had some great spells where we put them under real pressure. We know what we need to work on, and we’ll come back stronger."

Cardiff will look to regroup ahead of their next fixture, with this experience serving as valuable fuel for the remainder of the season.

Key Stats:

Biggest Lead: Worcester (26 points), Cardiff (6 points)

Lead Changes: 4

Times Tied: 5

Top Cardiff Scorers: Jon Thorne (20 pts), Berwin Wilks (10 pts), Michael Adiemola (9 pts)

A tough night on the scoreboard, but a performance full of heart from Cardiff City.