In a repeat of last year's final, Dunedin came from behind to snatch the game at Kettle Park when Trent Renata kicked a last-minute goal.
There was some high try-scoring in the opening round of the season. University A (v Green Island) and Kaikorai (v Pirates) each scored seven tries, while Southern scored six in its 37-0 win over Harbour.
Pirates and Kaikorai players sustained major injuries. Kaikorai halfback Blake Ensor broke an ankle in a warm-up drill, and Pirates' Poamo Aiiloilo pulled a hamstring, second five-eighth Shane Waldron has suspected concussion and lock Andrew Johnson has a suspected broken hand.
Dunedin 30 Taieri 29
It was a fitting start to the season from last year's two best teams. Dunedin extended its unbeaten run to 16 games and retained the Speight's Challenge Shield and the Walker-Fitzgerald Trophy.
This was a game in the balance, but when Josh Casey - the game's outstanding player - scored a try in the 78th minute, Taieri seem assured of victory.
However, referee Adam Morrison, in his 50th game, disagreed, and awarded Dunedin a penalty 40m out. Trent Renata calmly slotted the winner for the Sharks.
Dunedin looked the complete side in the first 20 minutes and scored early unconverted tries through Rowan Mckenzie and the rampaging Mitch Zandstra.
Taieri then decided to play and went on a 21-point spree, controlling possession and territory and utilising some polished finishing from wingers Ben Miller and Dwayne Burrows. Dunedin crucially stayed in the game with a late try in the half to Zandstra.
The pace took its toll in the second spell and Taieri, playing into a strong breeze, controlled possession and territory through the strong work of the pack, which led to Casey scoring what seemed to be the winning try.
But Renata, who was a calming influence for the Sharks in the second half, had a different take on it with the late penalty.
For Taieri, Nick McLennan and Matt Davidson were strong up front, and Miller, Burrows and Koro Rupene showed flashes of brilliance.
Gareth Evans and Zandstra were lively for the Sharks, Luke Schuler was a ubiquitous presence and George Vance was combative in his first premier game at halfback.
Dunedin 30 (Mitchell Zandstra 2, Rowan McKenzie, Gareth Evans tries; Greg Dyer con, pen, Trent Renata con, pen), Taieri 29 (Dwayne Burrows, Ben Miller, Josh Casey tries; Casey con, 4 pen). Halftime: Taieri 21-17.
University A 52 Green Island 10
University A put its stamp on the game at Miller Park by scoring five tries and 32 points in the second half.
The students had a slight edge when they led 20-10 at the break but it was one-sided in the second spell as they played positive, attacking rugby.
It was tough on Green Island because it played nearly 60 minutes of the game with only 14 men. Captain Roma Sauileoge and Highlander Brayden Mitchell were sin binned in the first half. Sauileoge received a second yellow card early in the second half and missed the rest of the game.
Green Island battled away early with some rugged defence and bumping runs with the ball in hand. But the effort could not be sustained, and when tiredness crept in, University A pounced.
The best player in the student team was rampaging lock Josh Dickson, who was a dangerous runner and used his speed to get up in support and score a try at the end of an attack that started at halfway.
The other University A forwards to impress were No 8 Dillon Hunt and hooker Sam Sturgess. The best back was counter-attacking fullback Matt Faddes. First five-eighth Sam Ellis was steady and kicked 13 points.
Combative halfback Tala Fagasoaia, the best Green Island back, was supported by the strong-tackling Fapene Popoali'i in the midfield.
No 8 Hamish Finnie and flanker Luke Johnston were the best of the Green Island forwards.
University A 52 (Matt Faddes, Sam McLachlan, Shea Tucker, Nick Annear, Dillon Hunt, Josh Dickson, Barnaby Weir tries; Sam Ellis 2 con, 3 pen, Faddes 2 con), Green Island 10 (Fapene Popoali'i try; Brady Page con, pen). Halftime: University A 20-10.
Southern 37 Harbour 0
Highlanders forwards Tom Franklin and TJ Ioane provided the impetus as Southern overwhelmed Harbour in the second half at Watson Park.
Harbour competed spiritedly in the first spell and it took Southern 32 minutes to break down the defence when fullback Logan Smith finished off a sustained attack.
But Southern added five tries in the second half, lock Franklin scoring after only two minutes on the field as the Magpies asserted their dominance.
They were too big and strong all round and the winning margin would have been greater had their goal-kicking (three successes out of eight) been more accurate.
Harbour made sporadic attacks but it was let down at crucial moments by unforced errors or the last pass not sticking.
Big No 8 Mika Mafi and blindside flanker Jackson Hemopo gave Southern plenty of go-forward, lock Simon Knight had a strong all-round game, and Franklin and Ioane added power and mobility when they came on for the second spell.
Hanipale Galo and Tei Walden were strong-running midfielders and outside backs Smith, Josh Gordon and Byron Dodge looked likely with ball in hand.
It was a difficult day for Harbour, which conceded size and strength to the opposition. Opensider and captain Hadleigh May had a lively game, while No 8 Ed Elvin and hooker Peter Mirrielees relished the chance to run with the ball in hand.
Mateo Malupo always threatened from fullback but had too few chances to counter-attack.
Southern 37 (Logan Smith, Josh Gordon, Tei Walden, Tom Franklin, Tim Ferguson, Nathan Cargo tries; Josh Ioane con, pen, Frae Wilson con), Harbour 0. Halftime: Southern 10-0.
Alhambra-Union 37 Zingari-Richmond 34
It was Peter Breen's class that rescued Alhambra-Union when Zingari-Richmond led 17-0 after just 20 minutes at the North Ground.
The Zingari forwards were dominating the game at this stage with locks Tom Rowe and Josh Bekhuis grabbing the ball in the lineouts and prop Colin Enright making some solid runs.
A Breen penalty after 22 minutes was the spark that ignited Alhambra-Union. Two tries were scored quickly, and 10 minutes later it was 20-20.
Alhambra-Union continued its assault in the second half, adding two more tries and 20 more points to lead 37-20.
Breen put his stamp on the game with skilled passing and accurate all-round kicking. He kicked seven goals and 17 points, and his most telling blow was a 50m penalty after 15 minutes in the second half.
Breen was backed up by hard-running winger Corey McFadzean, while lively No 8 Ben Pereira was the best of the forwards.
Zingari came storming back into the game in the last 10 minutes, with Rowe scoring two late tries to give his side two bonus points.
Alhambra-Union 37 (Corey McFadzean, Ben Qauqau, Tom Viggo, Kurt Baker tries; Peter Breen 4 con, 3 pen), Zingari-Richmond 34 (Tom Rowe 2, Lachie Moore, Chris Bell tries; Willie Ripia 4 con, 2 pen). Halftime: Zingari-Richmond 20-17.
Kaikorai 43 Pirates 15
A rampant Kaikorai side made the most of a strengthening tail wind throughout the first half to set itself up for victory at Hancock Park.
Kaikorai made its intentions clear from the kickoff, scoring through halfback Matt Te Tana in the opening minutes.
Enjoying a wealth of territory and possession, it then exposed Pirates down the left flank, with second five-eighth Logan Moore running in three tries in the space of 20 minutes. Moore's scoring blitz was backed up with tries either side of the break to flanker Lee Allan.
Kaikorai was also well served by props Ben Martin and Lachie Landels and flanker Kyle Harris, while in the backs, Jayden Spence and Bryce Morgan were solid both in defence and attack.
Pirates, despite an advantage in the scrum, and superb defence from Travis McIntosh and Craig Millar, let itself down with a high error rate and failed to make better use of a strong wind at its back in the second half.
Tim Cossens was sound at first five-eighth and scored 10 of Pirates' 15 points.
Kaikorai 43 (Logan Moore 3, Lee Allan 2, Matt Te Tana, Cameron Rutherford tries; Rutherford 4 con), Pirates 15 (Craig Sneddon, Tim Cossens tries; Cossens con, pen). Halftime: Kaikorai 31-15.
