Varsity's Mike Wheeler stretched superbly to block a fierce shot by Technical striker Aaron Burgess, and later Green Island's Rohan Prasad showed similar agility to deny Caversham.
Unfortunately for those keepers, opposition strikers darted in to ram home loose balls and score.
Technical coach Mike Fridge had the luxury of top player Andy Coburn making a surprise comeback, due to a change in travel plans, but there were enough fresh faces in maroon to promise the squad needs work to tighten up play.
A 4-2 win would please most coaches, but Fridge was less than happy at conceding two goals after his defence let in only eight goals for the whole of last season.
Varsity showed enough pace and skill, but naive defending conceded Technical's fourth goal when the ball stopped at the base of a corner flag, and while University stopped, Liam Lockhart pounced to drive over a cross that Burgess tapped in.
A new-look Caversham side beat Green Island 3-0. Darren Overton opened the scoring and Hamish Chan scored twice.
New coach Richard Murray was pleased with the Caversham effort, and overseer Malcolm Fleming commended the Island play which was full of energy, and well led by Prasad, Dan Rutter and Cody Robinson.
Mosgiel beat Grants Braes 2-0, but coach Mike McGarry's side was given no space by the gritty Braes side, which also mounted sporadic attacks that might have caused an upset.
Regan Coldicott settled the Plainsmen's nerves with a 15th minute goal, and Morgan Day's hard work earned the other goal. Braes coach Allan Laidler has a squad that will cause upsets, and its defence led by Cameroonian Njoh Mpondo will provide a sound base.
In Queenstown, Roslyn-Wakari thumped the local side 4-0 to take an early lead in the FPL, with goals by Brad Johnston, James Govan, James O'Callaghan and Damian Foster.
Another new coach, Colin Thom, arriving in Queenstown from a tramping trip, was delighted that his new young Roslyn squad had settled in quickly, but warned "It's early days".
In Invercargill, Northern's Dave Henderson went closest with a shot that grazed Spirit's woodwork, but generally the tussle was equal and finished at 0-0.
