Posted 7th Aug 2023

Imogen Allison “super proud” as Team Bath stars past and present help England make history by reaching first Netball World Cup final

Team Bath stars past and present helped England reach their first-ever Netball World Cup final as they secured silver in South Africa.

Australia proved too strong in Sunday’s final, clinching their 12th title with a 61-45 victory, but it was still a tournament to remember for the Vitality Roses, who are led by former Team Bath player and coach Jess Thirlby.

Imogen Allison in action against Australia in the Netball World Cup final. PICTURE: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Netball World Cup 2023

Blue & Gold mid-courter Imogen Allison – in her first World Cup – was a driving force at Centre as England won every group game before recording a 46-40 semi-final success against defending champions New Zealand on Saturday.

Also in the history-making squad were former Team Bath defenders Layla Guscoth and Geva Mentor, the latter enjoying her last Roses run-out in the final following a record-equalling sixth Netball World Cup appearance.

“We’ve spoken a lot about how this is the first time England have reached the final and I’m super-proud of all of us,” said Allison, a Sport and Exercise Science graduate of the University of Bath.

“We have to take this and run with it. If this is the first time we get to a final, the next time is the first time we win a gold.”

Allison started all eight matches for England, who eased through the first group stage by beating Barbados 90-29, Malawi 62-39 and Scotland 62-37.

Stage 2 saw England defeat Tonga 72-46, inspired by a player of the match performance from Allison, and Fiji 89-28 before recording a first-ever World Cup victory over Australia in thrilling fashion, the 56-55 win ensuring they finished top of their pool.

Three other Team Bath players were in action in South Africa, with Bethan Dyke – whose 144 feeds were the most of any player in the tournament – and NPL shooter Sarie Watkins helping Wales finish ninth overall. Their final placing match against Scotland, which the Feathers won 57-42, saw former Team Bath duo Emily Handysides and Tamsin Greenway on the opposing benches as Wales and Scotland Head Coaches respectively.

Team Bath’s Kadeen Corbin was one of the competition’s leading scorers with 175 goals as she made her Netball World Cup debut for Barbados, who placed 14th overall. Her sister Sasha, who used to play for Team Bath, made her final competitive appearance before retirement in Friday’s 75-48 defeat to Zimbabwe.

Focus now switches back to the domestic Super League competition, with Team Bath announcing their 2024 Super League squad shortly. Get the news first and direct to your inbox by signing up for our Team Bath Netball newsletter at netball.teambath.com/newsletter.

Picture credits: Gallo Images/Netball World Cup 2023

Other news articles

Team Bath Netball stars help local schoolchildren enjoy day of sporting fun in partnership with Bath Recreation

Young pupils at Twerton Infant School enjoyed an inspirational day of sporting fun at the University of Bath, thanks to Team Bath Netball and their partners at Bath Recreation Limited. Around 50 children in School Years 1 and 2...

Read More
In-form mid-courter Lucy Button elevated to Team Bath Netball NXT Gen League squad ahead of sell-out season opener

Dynamic defensive mid-courter Lucy Button has been added to the Team Bath Netball squad for the 2025 NXT Gen League season, which starts in early February with a sell-out home fixture against Nottingham Forest. Button, who plays wing-defence and...

Read More
A composite picture of the University of Bath student performance netball 1st and 2nd squads, who have both won their respective BUCS Premier Division South title in the 2024-25 season
Double delight as Bath student netballers both win BUCS Premier Division South titles on same day

Students on the University of Bath performance netball programme are celebrating a first-ever BUCS Premier Division South title double. A wonderful Wednesday at the Team Bath Sports Training Village saw the 1st beat Exeter 68-37 to secure the Premier...

Read More
Team Bath Netball Sponsors
Partners and Suppliers