University composed itself early against an aggressive Kia Toa defence and capitalised on penalties and errors with an easy try.
Kia Toa struggled to hold defensively against a tidy University side when it conceded another try out wide.
Fullback Emmet Hurley, showing blistering pace, extended his team's lead with a 30m run down the sideline, but Kia Toa bounced back as it muscled over for its first try of the season.
Joel Taniora further reminded University that Kia Toa was there to play when he scored on the final tackle of his side's next set.
Kia Toa continued to dig in defensively but small errors remained an issue. University's forwards maintained a high work-rate against a tiring Kia Toa defence, which created space for Ben Loughrey-Webb to score before the break.
The Tigers came out firing in the second half, attacking the line, and were rewarded with a try, but Dexter Buchanan replied almost immediately for the students.
Shaun Hosking gave his team hope when he brought Kia Toa within six points as he dotted down in the corner, but that hope was dashed when University crossed the line in the final minutes.
The new East Coast Eagles side was given a rude welcome to the grade when it was beaten 46-6 by the South Pacific Raiders.
The Eagles scored an early try, through Kail Spooner, but the Raiders dominated the rest of the game through tenacious defence and efficient offensive tactics.
By Thomas Heaton.
