Canterbury have shown their class in edging Waikato 24-17 in the opening match of the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC).
In a repeat of the 2020 final, led by halfback Kendra Cocksedge, the defending champions withstood a late Mooloo charge, with the No.9 scoring 19 points in victory.
Cockedge raised 1000 points in New Zealand domestic rugby - the first woman to do so, and her two tries took her tally to 65 in a 14-year career.
Canterbury never trailed after opening up a 14-point lead in the first half, but Waikato came storming back with teenage winger Gabby Wainohu causing many shaky moments for the normally rock-solid Cantabrian defence.
Waikato went within nine midway through the second half until a Cocksedge penalty gave them breathing room.
Bench player Kelsey Tenati's try set up a grandstand final 10 minutes, but the homeside couldn't find another, and Canterbury secured a vital win.
Elsewhere, Northland Kauri won their opening game, coming back to beat the Hawkes Bay Tui 46-31 at Napier's McLean Park.
The Manawatu Cyclones thrashed the Taranaki Whio 48-5 at their home Central Energy Trust Arena in Palmerston North.
North Harbour Hibiscus beat the Tasman Mako 35-32 at Albany in Auckland, and the Counties Manukau Heat triumphed over the Bay of Plenty Volcanix, 21 -13.
