The Scots squad, which featured GIS athlete Jilly Bell (Glasgow, studying at University of Aberdeen) opened the tournament with a narrow 1-0 loss to Switzerland but then followed this up with a 5-0 and 8-2 thumping of hosts Portugal.

With only one promotion spot available the Scots got off to the worst of starts in the final when they allowed Fabienne Walti to waltz through and score in the first minute. And Walti continued the Swiss roll with two further strikes from penalty corners to put her side three up by the interval. Ellie Cockburn (WSIS) did have the ball in the net midway through the half but the umpire adjudged her strike came from outside the scoring circle.

It was a different story after the interval as Amy Brodie (ESIS) and Holly Porter (formerly GIS) came close, but found the Swiss goalkeeper in fine form. Then it was Cockburn`s turn to experience frustration in front of goal, when she latched onto a pass from Emily Bain (ESIS) but a magnificent double save by the Swiss keeper thwarted her.

Within a minute the Milne Craig Western striker was in a similar position following a opening by Louise Fleming (formerly GIS, now ESIS), but again the chance ended with a good block. And when Walti added a fourth midway through the half, the contest was effectively over.

A disappointed manager Sheila Gray said: "We played well in phases, but the Swiss were an experienced and well drilled outfit with a lethal penalty corner striker. We never really recovered from losing a goal in the first minute.