While the Dogs followed up with a 1-0 loss to Canterbury in Timaru yesterday, the team exceeded its own expectations and that bodes well for the remainder of the tournament.
With some key players missing this season and a non-existent pre-season, Southern coach Dave Ross talked down his team's prospects.
Saturday's fixture against Auckland was a repeat of last year's final and the script suggested the visitors would be too strong.
The Dogs are missing Black Caps Hugo Inglis and Blair Tarrant and Australian international Eddie Ockenden this season.
That is a lot of talent gone west but regardless, the home team played with more structure and dominated the defending champions.
''Most of these guys have played together for a long time so the structures are in place,'' Ross said.
''We've had the majority of this side since they were kids and that is what Southern is about, really. It does not matter what part of the country they go to to hone their skills, in the end they come back and still play the same way.
''That showed [on Saturday]. We had some good passing structures, we defended really, really well and we shut down their ball players and they have some fantastic ball players.
''I'm very happy with the result and also pretty excited about down the track once we do get a few games under our belt.
''It gives us something good to build on.''
Former Black Stick James Nation was superb on defence. Left half Alistair Birchall worked hard and Nick Ross played in a sweeping role and was influential at both ends of the field.
Striker Chris Ashton made some fine touches and Irish international player Kirk Shimmins was superb value and hustled the entire game.
Auckland, for its part, struggled to keep possession and the pressure finally told midway through the third period when Jason Dungey was on hand to knock the ball in after the goalie deflected a solid strike from Ross.
The game opened up in the final period and Auckland perhaps played some of its best hockey. But it fell behind 2-0 after Shimmins dribbled into the circle and found the foot of his opponent to draw a penalty corner.
Drag flick specialist Kane Russell's shot was parried but only as far as Joe Crooks, who slapped it in.
Auckland replied through veteran defender Ryan Archibald and pressed hard for an equaliser, even striking the crossbar at one point.
Southern goalie Hamish McGregor saved two penalty corners during a tense period as Auckland rallied.
The match against Canterbury was a scrappy and physical affair. The home side scored the winner from a penalty corner in the fourth period. For other results see Scoreboard.
