Scots miss out on promotion

Scotland’s men took the bronze medal but missed out on promotion at the European Indoor Championships 111 in Nicosia.

The Scots were able to hand out thumpings to the lesser nations, but when faced with the challenge from the likes of Slovakia and Belarus, Stuart Neaves’ charges were found wanting and consequently they failed to secure promotion to Europe’s second tier.

The Scots recovered from the doldrums of Saturday’s 5-4 defeat by Slovakia and a 3-1 loss to Belarus with an 11-0 thumping of Slovenia in yesterday’s opening fixture before cruising to a 4-0 victory over Wales in their final match.

But any lingering hopes of a miracle vanished when Slovakia thumped Cyprus 7-2 in their final game to take the second promotion place by a single point from the Scots.