Portsmouth Force returned to Ravelin after getting back to winning ways last week against Bracknell Cobras, looking to regain control in the league title race behind Crawley and Oxford.

Before tip-off, both teams and the crowd observed a minute’s silence in memory of the University of Essex and Essex Rebels players who tragically lost their lives two weekends ago.

When the game began, Force wasted no time asserting themselves. From the opening tip-off, they locked down Cardiff’s offensive threats while scoring at will through high-tempo, pressure defence. A quick-fire 9-0 run had the home fans believing this might be an easy win. However, Cardiff had other ideas, responding with defensive stops and quick scores to cut the gap to 11-8. This forced Force to snap back into reality and realise they would need to work hard to secure the victory. They regained control for the rest of the quarter, closing it out with a 28-18 lead.

The second quarter followed a similar pattern, with Force continuing to extend their advantage. By halftime, they had built a commanding 56-34 lead.

In the third quarter, however, Cardiff increased its intensity, forcing several turnovers and poor decisions from the Force squad. Force did not re-establish its dominance until late in the quarter, but it still managed to win the period by 5 points, pushing the score to 82-55 heading into the final quarter.

In previous seasons, Force may have eased off in the final quarter with a comfortable lead, but this time, knowing that point difference could play a crucial role in final league standings, they maintained their pressure. The team continued their relentless pace until the final buzzer, securing an emphatic 109-70 victory.

Arguably, Force’s most consistent performance across four quarters this season, with scores of 28, 28, 26, and 27. Every player contributed points, with four finishing in double figures—a testament to the team’s depth and cohesion.

The force now turns their focus to next weekend’s crucial away fixture against Bath Basketball, who are battling for a playoff spot.

Report written by Andy Rowlands.