CHEPSTOW 1sts will be making an early return to South East Wales One after relegation from SW Premier 2 was confirmed with a 68-run loss at home to Port Talbot 1sts on Saturday.

The visitors were dismissed for 209 in 48.3 overs by a good Chepstow bowling effort, Ben Hope-Bell taking three wickets for 12 off four overs, Raahi Kumar 2-37 and James Hall 2-32.

But only three Chepstow batters then made double figures, as they crumbled to 141 all out in 42 overs, Hall firing a belligerent 54, backed by James Kellaway with 26 and Jason Dobbie with 22 not out.

Oliver Thornhill fired 76 for the 2nds away to Machen 1sts in SEW 3 having cracked a club record 233 not out the previous week, but couldn’t prevent them falling to a 10-wicket loss.

No one else really troubled the scoreboard as Chepstow were 152 all out in 35.1 overs.

And the hosts then galloped to 153 without loss in 30.4 overs, with the result leaving Chepstow seventh but safe with one game left.