St Andrews were worthy winners away to a very strong Clevedon team in the national Top Club championship.

Clevedon included their four women international players and were favourites to win on their own rink.

However, from the moment St Andrews' Carolina Venn restricted England under-25 cap Imogen Cracknell to a six-shot victory in the women’s two-wood singles, St Andrews had the edge.

Becky McMillan and Sam Stocker teamed up to win a high-quality pairs by four shots, withstanding a home fightback.

Meanwhile, Phil Villis won the men’s two-wood singles by six shots, showing dominant form.

Those results meant that St Andrews needed to win either the triples or fours to go through.

Both were tense, close games, with Dave Fairhurst, Jackie Pitman, Jean Whittaker, and Darrell Johnston eventually finishing 16-10 ahead in the fours.

That settled the result, and the triple of Clare Andrews, Craig Walker, and Lee Stocker did not finish the last end, settling for a draw.

St Andrews will be away again in the next round, this time to Bristol on October 27.

In other news, St Andrews member Debbie Johns skipped a rink in the England team that finished runners-up in the British Isles Shortmat Championships at Carmarthen.