St Andrews shocked a star-studded Clevedon team by beating them on their own green in the Bowls England mixed fours championship.

Saints’ line-up of Tim Wyatt, in his first competitive outdoor season, Sue Sinclair, Rebecca McMillan and Simon Angove faced a daunting task against England regulars Laura Holden and Stef Branfield, backed up by Somerset Middleton Cup players Neil Westlake and Nick Pearce.

Having gone 2-0 down, the visitors fought back to lead 7-2 but Clevedon found their form and, with two of the 15 ends to go, led 12-8.

A two on the penultimate end brought St Andrews to within touching distance. But, when outstanding skip Angove went on the mat, his team were down on the end and he faced a wall of woods in front of the jack.

His first bowl was perfect weight and took a slight deflection to slide in for shot. His second somehow evaded all the obstructions and nestled beautifully next to his first to give St Andrews the two they needed to force the extra end.

The tension built as Saints struck the first blow through Wyatt on the extra end but McMillan thought she had given it away when she moved the jack, yet it was still Saints’ shot.

Clevedon skip Branfield went close with her first bowl then, after much contemplation, Angove decided to put a short wood on her line.

It worked, because Branfield had to change her hand, missed and Saints were through to a home date with local rivals Victoria, skipped by Mike Cooper.

That proved the sole highlight of the week for St Andrews as the men’s and women’s teams both lost.

The men were at home to Clevedon Prom in the Weston Over-60s League, having won at the Prom at the start of the season.

Halfway through on Thursday, Saints were up on two rinks and led by three overall but with five ends left, the Prom had edged two in front.

Then, across the green, they scored 29 shots to Saints’ 11 for a 20-shot victory margin, with Robin Potter, Richard Venn and Danny Favis the only home winners.

The women were at home to Portishead RBL in a three-triple friendly and did well to finish up on the rinks skipped by Ann Campbell and Jane Smith.

However, a hotshot nine dropped on the seventh end of the third rink proved decisive as RBL won by 11.

Results, Weston Over-60s League Div One, St Andrews 54 (2pts) Clevedon Promenade 74 (10pts): R Brereton, A McMillan, B Forse 13-19; R Potter, R Venn, D Favis 16-14; C Reeves, A Dawes, B Reeves 11-18; L Fisher, D Bailey, D Hurst 14-23.

Women’s triples friendly, St Andrews 39 Portishead RBL 50: B Mangan, D Baker, A Campbell 16-14; J Webb, M Frost, M Favis 6-23; F Allen, M Bailey, J Smith 17-13.

Other, Wessex Ladies 48 Victoria 27: P Rolls, E Wade, M Hawkins 13 F Payme, I Miles, S Newman 10; P Turner, D Welfare, P Taylor 18 M Slavin, N White, S Cooper 9; J Hartree, N Peters, B Jones 17 R Bailey, R Cleeves, A Holland 8.