Scotland’s team were knocked out of the European Championships when they lost to England in the Group 8 decider in Liverpool.

Glasgow’s Susan Hughes did win the singles with a battling 21-12 15-21 21-17 win over the Bank of Scotland International Champion Liz Cann.

But the No.2 seeds won three off the first four rubbers to go through to meet the Ukraine in the quarter-finals.

Scotland has never beaten the Auld Enemy at badminton, but had chances to pile on some early pressure. In the opening mixed doubles, Watson Briggs and Imogen Bankier had a game point to take the lead before losing out 20-22 11-21 to Robert Blair and Gabby White.

Edinburgh-born Blair partners Bankier on the international circuit – they are ranked No.7 in the world – and he played for Scotland before defecting to England seven years ago. But he led his adopted country to a 22-10 21-11 victory.

In the men’s singles, Merrilees, a promising 19-year-old from Glasgow, also had chances against Bank of Scotland International Champion Rajiv Ouseph. He led 5-0 in the second game before going down 13-21 18-21.

Hughes finally got a deserved point on the board for the Scots, but Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark clinched the last eight place with a three end win over Briggs and Andy Bowman in the men’s doubles.