The aggressive play of No 8 Mark Atkins helped Dunedin to a convincing seven-try win at Kettle Park.
Lock Tom Rowe helped Zingari-Richmond control the lineout, and the Colours led 12-7 after 20 minutes.
It was Atkins' aggression midway through the first spell that changed the momentum of the game and gave the advantage to Dunedin.
He broke past three tacklers inside the 22m to stretch the margin. A few minutes later, the other dynamic Dunedin loose forward, Gareth Evans, scored Dunedin's fourth try and the margin was 28-17 at the break.
Dunedin dominated possession in the second spell through the work of its strong scrum and the skills of its loose forwards.
Props Kelsey Miller and David Smart were key to the scrum and added punch with their driving play and the pick and go.
Atkins made two decisive breaks in the second spell that led to tries. On one of them was scored by winger Robert Maxwell, who bagged two second-half tries.
Halfback Brad Weber had a decisive game with his quick passing that created space for the Dunedin backs.
Zingari played with guts but its team lacked the pace and class to match a Dunedin team that exuded class and played the game with speed.
Dunedin 49 (Robert Maxwell 2, Ashton Tuck, Brad Webber, Mark Atkins, Gareth Evans, Fraser Lau tries; Pera Gibbs 7 con), Zingari-Richmond 17 (Kelly Moore, Nathan Napier Ma'afu Fia tries; Christian Walker con). Halftime: 28-17.
