Cunning Cowie a hit over the hill

Above: Wainuiomata fullback Campbell Cowie flying in to score one of his two tries in their fourth round 34-17 win over Marist St Pat’s. Photo: Andy McArthur.

• By Adam Julian

Campbell Cowie bucks the trend of players quitting senior rugby due to tumbling numbers, other priorities, or a lack of motivation. Wainuiomata is his fourth club after stints at Marist St Pats, Tawa, and Old Boys University.

From battling nomad to Wainuiomata co-captain, the fullback is a vital player as the club celebrates its 80th Anniversary in 2026. Few things would mark that milestone better than a victory over arch-rivals Petone on Old Timers’ Day at William Jones Park on Saturday. The coveted Darren Larsen cup will be at stake.

“I’ve never beaten Petone. Last year, they absolutely thrashed us. It was the longest game I’ve ever played, standing there watching them go over for another try,” Cowie said.

“They’re playing well and looking strong, but both teams have three wins. Usually, we’re in reserve, so this should be an exciting game. We’ve played some good rugby in parts, but we haven’t put together a full 80 minutes yet,” he said.

Last Saturday, Cowie scored two tries as Wainuiomata beat Marist St Pats 34-17 at Evans Bay Park. Even though they missed 21 points from goal kicks, it was their biggest win over the Scarlets since their memorable 26-13 victory in the 2014 Jubilee Cup semi-final.

“We really targeted that game. We haven’t beaten them often, so we focused on getting off to a good start. The forwards laid an outstanding platform, and Keanu Kotuhi and Emmanuel Solomona did a great job guiding us around the park,” Cowie said.

Coaches Daniel Farani, Atilla Va’a, Daniel Smith, and Uale Mai have introduced a more expansive approach, and it’s reaping dividends

Winger Raymond Va’a also scored two tries, just like he did in the first round 48-14 win over Avalon and in the 25-23 comeback win against Pōneke.

“The old dogs are still doing their thing, but we’re lucky to have recruited some younger players who are making a big difference. Braydon Soi and Elijah Solomona are outstanding loose forwards, so athletic and physically imposing, they give us a lot of options,” Cowie acclaimed.

“Keanu Kotuhi brings a lot of energy, and Emmanuel Solomona at first five is a big guy, but he’s quick on his feet. He’s really skilled, and because he’s played a lot at second-five, you never know if he’ll run, pass, or kick.”

Cowie, a Wellington College First XV Premiership winner in 2011, joined the Marist St Pat’s Colts out of school. Tawa was next, but he failed to surpass peak Randall Bishop and Faraimo Nofoaiga into the Premier team. Still, he was on the 2016 Jubilee Cup-winning squad. At Old Boys University between 2019 and 2020, opportunities were even more sparse, so he joined Wainuiomata after buying a house in the area with his wife and two kids.

Fullback Campbell Cowie combines with another former Wellington College and MSP player Andrew Wells (now retired) to score two tries against Old Boys University last year. 

In 2021, he scored on his debut for Wainuiomata against Ories. Another highlight was scoring twice in a 47-22 win over Upper Hutt. He played his 50th game in a 27-14 win against Marist St Pat’s in 2024, the same year Wainuiomata beat Paremata-Plimmerton 24-19 in the Hardham Cup final.

“It was nice to get some silverware after battling away for a few years. Obviously, we wanted to win the Jubilee, but Para-Plim were strong that year and we dug deep,” Cowie said.

“One of the reasons I love this club is that it’s about more than just winning trophies. We see ourselves as part of the community, helping families, bringing people together, and trying to solve problems instead of just walking away.”

During the week, Cowie works in IT, fixing problems. He started out in roofing, but now he’s a commercial advisor who negotiates software contracts for the government. That might be the least typical Wainuiomata job there is.

“Most of the boys are builders and bricklayers, but that’s rugby for you. It reflects the community – everyone’s welcome, no matter their background,” Cowie said.

Nobody epitomises the strength of the Wainuiomata community better than Chairman and Premier Co-Captain Teru Time. On Saturday, he passed Alan Parker as Wainuiomata’s most capped player with 221 Premier games, breaking a record that had stood since 1989.

First year flanker Elijah Solomona with the club’s most capped Premier player Teru Time in support, last week against MSP. PHOTO: Andy McArthur.

“I reckon he could get to 300 games,” Cowie joked.

Wainuiomata’s official 80th Anniversary celebrations will be held from May 29 to 31, over King’s Birthday weekend.

Darren Larsen Cup 20 – Some Classic Moments

Darren Larsen coached both the Petone and Wainuiomata premier teams and subsequently enjoyed a long career in recruitment and coaching for the Hurricanes. The first Darren Larsen Cup match was in 2007 and won by Petone 39-27. When Petone beat Wainuiomata in 2022 on the last afternoon of the Swindale Shield to clinch the first round title, it was the first time since 2010 that they had won over the hill against the green and blacks.

30 June 2012: Wainuiomata scored 38 unanswered points to power past  Petone 50-20. Petone led 12-0 midway through the first half and then 20-19 at halftime, but after the turnaround, Wainuiomata quickly scored two converted tries to race ahead 31-20, and they didn’t look back. They scored eight tries all up, including two each to wing Jason Love and flanker Greg Lealofi.

25 April 2013: Wainuiomata held off a Petone comeback in the second half to win 36-29 at William Jones Park. Speedster Jason Love flew in for the first two tries to give Wainuiomata a 12-7 lead, and they progressed to a 24-10 halftime lead. Petone came right back after the break with a try to wing Naph Sulusi. Wainuiomata hooker Dion Lealofi was sinbinned and the Villagers were awarded a penalty try. But the green and blacks dug deep, and right wing Teru Time scored the winning try late in the contest for a famous win.

5 July 2014: A Jubilee Cup round-robin match that Petone perhaps had no right to win, but they did so, prevailing 27-25 in the dying minutes. Wainuiomata were ahead 25-13, before two tries in the blink of an eye, both coolly converted by stand-in first five-eighth Carne Green, gave the Villagers victory. Replacement wing Keanu Moran scorched through to score the first try, and then hooker Eugene Smith came up with the equaliser. Green slotted the winning conversion taken from just to the left of the uprights.

28 April 2018: Wainuiomata: No. 8 Ben Tupuola scored a try under the posts off a 5-metre scrum with the final play of the game to set up a 26-26 draw. After scoring the game’s first try before conceding three straight tries, Wainuiomata came back from a 19-7 deficit in the second half. First five-eighth John Monu was directly involved in three tries as they closed to 19-26 with just a few minutes to play. Later in the season, Petone beat Wainuiomata 27-26 in the Hardham Cup final, with tries to Adam Simpson, Josh Onekawa, Dylan Williamson and Taurima Morris.

27 June 2020: “In the Nick of Trei”,  Wainuiomata retained the Darren Larsen Cup for a 10th consecutive year with an extraordinary 28-23 victory. With three minutes remaining, Petone, having trailed most of the match, levelled the scores when second-five Tom Carter scored close to the posts after a series of swift offloads and robust carries by the forwards. Wainuiomata first-five Ruben Love re-started an almost resigned kick that rolled into the Petone deal ball area. Waiting for the ball to roll dead was a pair of Petone defenders whose hesitation was unfortunate. Chasing earnestly, Wainuiomata reserve Trei Mu lunged at the ball and forced it down for one of the most dramatic tries ever seen at William Jones Park. With the scoreboard clock showing 43:00, Petone regained the kick-off but lost the ball after half a dozen phases, 35 metres out from the line.

4 May 2024: A rollicking afternoon of club rugby, Petone beat Wainuiomata 60-36 on Old Timers’ Day at William Jones Park, on the occasion of Wainuiomata wing Jason Love’s 200th Premier match. Petone led 24-10 after 30 minutes, but Wainuiomata fought back to lead 36-29, only for Petone to fly home late. Petone left winger Belgium Tuatagaloa flew in, followed by Sam Clarke, Losi Filipo, Cam Ferreira, Emery McGill and Kafa Katoa, who took it away from the home side.