The Otago Development side beat Otago Country 50-24 at the University Oval in Dunedin on Saturday.
It was the first match for both sides in a five-team tournament.
The competition also features Southland Country, Southland Development and Canterbury Country.
The game was entertaining, with both sides scoring some well-executed tries.
It was a typical first-up game for the Development team, which will need to work on correcting the high error rate if it is to be competitive against stronger opposition over the next four weeks.
Jesse Toto scored two of the Development team's seven tries.
Otago Country was bolstered by some Otago ITM Cup squad members but struggled to keep pace with the Development team.
The Country team also battled for parity at the breakdown, where turnover ball led to a number of the Development side's tries.
Apart from that, Country's loose forwards played well.
Adam Hill, on loan from the Otago squad, had an outstanding game at blindside flanker, and loose forward partner Simon Grant also impressed.
Country managed two good tries, both scored by winger Tyler Bichan, who showed excellent speed.
Regular penalties ensured Country kept in touch for most of the match, but the score blew out with a late Development try.
Country's next match is against Southland Development in Invercargill this weekend.
Development v Country
The scores
Otago Development 50
Jesse Toto 2, Shannon Young, Robbie Smith, Will Hurst, Johnny Mason, Brett Anderson tries; Stephen Fenemor 4 con, pen, Ben Patston 2 con
Otago Country 24
Tyler Bichan 2 tries; Cam Johnston con, 3 pen, Matt Faddes pen
Halftime: Development 29-8.
