ENGLAND won the Club Milk sponsored junior women's Four Countries basketball championship at the National Arena in Tallaght over the weekend. Ireland claimed second place with a 57-52 win in their final game yesterday against Iceland.
The match which effectively, decided the destination of the trophy was England's 81-74 victory over Ireland on Saturday. At one stage in the game the English led by 22 points, but the introduction of Susan Moran helped stir an Irish revival, and with two minutes remaining the deficit had been reduced to just two points.
However, England punished Ireland's persistent fouling late in the match to land six crucial free throws which gave them victory.
Against Iceland yesterday, Ireland also fell behind, but turned a 31-27 half time deficit into a five point victory, helped by 22 points from Listowel's Sine ad Leahy.
Meanwhile, in Iverness in Scotland the Irish junior men's team were well beaten, 77-48, by eventual champions, England on Saturday in the men's Four Countries championship. The Irish claimed second spot with wins over Scotland (73-67) and Wales (116-65).
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