After suffering an agonising defeat at the hands of hosts Sweden on Saturday in the qualifying rounds of the European basketball Under16 championships in Huskvarna, the Irish Cadettes rallied yesterday to record a 63-36 win over England.

The Swedes inflicted most of the damage early on to establish a 10-point lead.

Ireland rallied in the second half, with Dearbhla Breen again leading the surge. But the Scandinavians managed to run out 11-point winners.

European Under-16 Championship (in Sweden) - Girls: Ireland 63 England 36 (Irish scorers: D Fennell 16, M Guiney 11, D Breen 8). Ireland 47 (D Breen 16, AM Healy 14, S Duggan 4, K Fitzpatrick 4) Sweden 58. Boys: England 87 Ireland 49 (Irish scorers: G Quinlan 12, N Duggan 6, D Rice 6, C Morrissey 6).