CHEPSTOW CC 1st XI crashed out of the Welsh Cup when they lost their third round match at Pontypridd by four runs.

Luke Watson claimed three wickets for 31 runs and Chepstow restricted the home side to 177 for seven wickets in 45 overs.

For Ponty, Ryan Williams hitting one six and three fours in his 51 not out and opener Andrew Collins made 22 before being caught by David Monk.

In reply, Tom Smith (3) was trapped leg before by Martyn Oliver and then with the home side holding their catches, Chepstow lost wickets regularly.

Tuhin Gavand top-scored for the visitors with 39 but was run-out by Gareth Palmer and their challenge ended on 173 for eight wickets.

Pontypridd scored 178 off their 45 overs, Chepstow were 45 for 1 off 15 at one point but finally lost by four runs.

Meanwhile in the Glamorgan & Monmouthshire Cricket League Chepstow 2nds 226 all out beat Radyr 2nds 36 all out by 190 runs Spectacular bowling and a spirited, if patchy, batting performance saw Chepstow Seconds earn a resounding victory at Mathern Road.

Skipper-for-the-day Paul Bennett - in the absence of the injured Huw Rogers - lost the toss and after the Herculean efforts of the Chepstow groundstaff had made the wicket soft and damp but very playable, Radyr decided to bowl.

After a slow start, Amit Kriplani (10) fell to a catch and fellow opener David Bennett was joined by no-relation Paul Bennett, the pair setting about the Radyr attack.

David was particularly severe on any loose deliveries and looked set for a century until an excellent catch on the boundary by David Skirrow sent him back to the pavilion.

That heralded a mini collapse with four wickets falling for ducks and Chepstow were teetering on the brink, six down with another 20 overs left.

That brought Mitchell Harris to the wicket and together they steadied the ship although Bennett fell, caught and bowled by Radyr skipper Rhys Mander, for a fighting 56.

Harris' well-constructed 37 saw Chepstow through to maximum batting points while Mander and his players looked dejected at the interval after conceding 226 runs.

The visitors' bad day had not finished as the second half of the game was over as soon as it had begun with Jack Farrant (2 for 12) and Aaron Jones (3 for 11) dismantling the Radyr top order. Farrant continued where he left off last week at Abergavenny with some top class swing bowling and it was then left to the slow left arm spin of Josh Tregaskes to wrap up the Radyr innings. His spectacular spell of bowling saw him take four wickets for only five runs as the Radyr team slumped to 36 all out. Maximum bonus points from the last two league games sees Chepstow rise to 5th in the league after a disappointing start to the season.