The men's team, battle-hardened after a six-week build-up which has included games against the Southland Men's Team, Southern Steel ANZ Championship franchise and the Otago Premier Lois Muir Challenge side proved superior to a new-look Phys Ed team.
In the opening exchanges both teams appeared to suffer from first-game nerves and the first five minutes saw the score seasaw as players settled into the match.
However, the men's team was the quicker of the two to get down to business and gained the ascendancy with New Zealand men's representative netballer Ryan Fitzgerald (centre) leading the way with some timely interceptions in the midcourt.
The men were up 15-8 at the first quarter break.
In the second quarter Phys Ed opted to combat the men's height and speed by slowing the game down and playing flatter passes.
However, it also lost some of its own momentum and struggled to maintain timing on to its own ball and only managed five goals for the quarter.
The men had a comfortable lead 28-13 at half-time.
In a hard-fought third quarter, Phys Ed's Danielle Calnon had an outstanding performance at wing defence, limiting the movements of her opponent and turning over valuable ball for her team-mates.
But this was not converted into points and her side trailed by 17-39 at the break.
In the final quarter, both teams played several well executed moves, both showing glimpses of the type of quality they will play later in the season.
In other matches, Albion A, a team stacked with representative players, overcame a slow start to beat a tenacious Southern B 66-46.
Albion's coach Janine Southby opted to give valuable court time to newcomer Pip Allen at goal shoot and Lizzie Sandon started at wing attack. Alongside Allen in the shooting circle was very experienced Anna Molineaux (goal attack). With both Molineaux and Sandon supporting Allen, she was well held in the circle.
However it was Southern which made the moves in the first half, Black Fern Carla Hohepa (centre) having a dazzling performance both on attack and defence. Southern's defence effort throughout the court gave it a 26-25 lead at halftime.
In the second half, with Albion in more familiar positions, it quickly amassed a nine-goal advantage.
With slicker circle work from Sandon (goal shoot) and Molineaux, the Southern defence looked pedestrian and Albion dominated.
The Albion defence stepped up its own performance, with Hannah Broaderlow picking off what appeared to be every other ball into the Southern's shooting circle.
Albion won the third quarter 24-9 and led 49-35.
Southern tried to rally in the final quarter but the damage had been done, and Albion had a comfortable win.
In other opening games, College A held off Phys Ed B 42-37 and Phys Ed C outplayed Albion B 59-41.
