Netball: Captain's children provide motivational fuel to All In teams

Candis Timms says 1-year-old daughter Willow not only inspires the All In Elusive team but also the Weston Sports centre named after her son, the late Weston. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

Candis Timms was doing just fine until she came to a fork in the road of her life where she had to make a choice following the tragic loss of her newborn son, Weston.

"I had two ways to look at it - it'll either make you or break you," says Timms whose 8-week-old child lost his battle with a rare illness in late 2015.

As it turned out the 28-year-old ventured down the right path, becoming stronger for the experience on the way to having 1-year-old Willow with her husband, Nathan Timms.

"Willow's my drive and Weston's legacy is my passion," says the All In Elusive centre before they play traditional foes Otane Thirsty Force in the Super 8 shield crossover final at Woodford House hall in Havelock North from 7.30pm today.

Timms says she chose to live and her son's name will be around for years after she started Weston Sports along Omahu Rd in Hastings, that offers indoor netball and 2 touch facilities.

Willow inspires not just her but the entire centre.

"In sport, every day, I emphasise how we are all one and our motto is 'One in, All In'," says Timms who started the venture with Levi Armstrong as a touch club in 2011.

Armstrong has since started his own business, Patu gyms, in Hastings and Napier which is still associated with Weston under the All In umbrella.

Netball was incorporated in 2014, starting with two teams and now that has mushroomed into four - the other three are Saturday competition sides in premier one, senior one and senior three grades.

The All In Elusive Super 8 netball team sport the Weston logo on their dresses.

Timms received massive support from family and friends to overcome an extremely tough time.

Her husband also has been a "rock".

Winning the Super 8 crown has been a goal ever since their inception but the members of the centre also have build a rapport outside the court and field.

"If we're able to look after each other's backs on the court the score will take care of itself," she says.

Cohabiting in a family-orientated environment fosters that sort of resolve, not just the team but the entire centre.

When they organise functions an army of support crew roll up their sleeves to help ease the load.

The All In philosophy stems from acquiring a singular vision for communal benefits in matters pertaining to healthy lifestyle choices through exercise and sport.

The members were initially scattered, representing myriad social teams in netball and touch but now attempt to extract the best out of their potential sporting careers.

Timms, who captains All In, realises Otane are the yardstick of attainment in netball.

"We know it's not going to be an easy task for us so we'll have to play for 60 minutes," she says of the two undefeated sides in round four.

The Charissa Barham-coached All In like to believe they have strength running through the spine of the court with GA Kia Diamond, WA Angela Stubbs and GD Sonee-Lee Waerea forming checkpoints with Timms as centre.

The four have built cohesiveness for a decade but weren't there last year. Timms and Diamond were expectant mothers, Waerea was nursing a niggly injury and Stubbs was in a different All In grade.

That strength also is reflected on their bench, removing reliance on any particular area.

"We're very lucky [to have Barham as coach] because she brings a lot of culture to the team and has a lot to offer," she says of the NZ Secondary Schools assistant coach who also is a close friend.

A former New Zealand women's open touch representative for three years, Timms also is training for the national over-27 touch team who will play three matches in Sunshine Coast in Australia in September.

So how does she juggle motherhood, netball, touch and running Weston Sports?

"It's a passion for me, not a job. I have an awesome support system in my family," she says.

Her mother, Honey Amner, is All In manager not just for her netball team but in all the other grades as well.

"She's definitely the rock of our club and does all the hard work behind the scenes."
Otane stalwart Tammy Kupa says while playoffs are second nature to them the new blood in the team means many haven't had that feeling yet.

Sister Rebecca Kupa, Briar Chalmers and Treyanna Faulkner form the nucleus of Otane's constitution with Kupa.

"Rebecca and Treyanna have just had babies who are 5 or 6 months old so they're obviously dealing with motherhood," says Tammy Kupa who plays and co-coaches with Jewels Falcon.

Consequently Kupa doesn't see her outfit as favourites and feels All In have every right to
be fizzing with confidence.

The Farmers manager of the Hastings branch believes the heart-breaking loss to Outkast Optimise Physio last season, after an unbeaten run in the lead up, will spur them on this year.

"It was gutting to lose that final so for us the motivation is to get back to where we should be at the top of the table," she says, mindful they had lost several players before the final.

Kupa says many Otane players were at Weston's funeral because there's a lot of affinity between them going back to their childhood.

"As a fellow mum and with other mums in the team we appreciate what she's gone through so she kind of gives us a sense of wanting to do well as well.

"As a mum I couldn't think of anything worse to go through, really."

Kupa says Otane understand that drive and hunger from All In but they'll endeavour to match it tonight.

No 4 placegetters in the two pools; Hastings Girls' High School Senior A and Havelock North House of Travel Kauri, play from 6pm to see who will play senior table toppers HHSOG Proactive Huias in the promotion/relegation match to remain in Super 8.

Huias were relegated from last season as their Spicers Keas outfit gained promotion.

TONIGHT'S DRAWS

All Super 8 shield crossover matches at Woodford House, AW Parsons Stadium, Waipukurau, and Sacred Heart College, Napier:

■ 6pm: No 4 Hastings Girls' High School Senior A v No 4 Havelock North House of Travel Kauri WH1.
Umpires: K Jones and N Corbett.

■ 7.30pm: No 1 All In Elusive v No 1 Otane Thirsty Whale WH1.
Umpires: H Lewis and K Ives.

■ 6.15pm: No 3 Hastings High School Old Girls Spicers Keas v No 3 NGHS Senior A SH1.
Umpires: N Walker and A Williams.

■ 8pm: No 2 Central Sports Vet Services HB v No 2 Outkast Optimise Physio AW1.
Umpires: T Gardiner and J Varcoe.