For one team, it felt like a tune-up match, watching the other it almost felt like the end of an era.
Usually the first round of the Tasman Tanning Premier is not be a reflection of a full season - the results often able to be swept under the carpet, especially for perennial title contenders McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu who had dropped game 1 in the previous two seasons.
But after the 47-17 disposal by a Waverley Harvesting Border team, who by admission have yet to find their own groove yet, Ruapehu will need to get firm commitment from some of their 'maybe' players around the Ohakune area while hoping the convalescence of their injured key men goes quickly.
Surrendering the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield and leaking six tries, Ruapehu are way understrength and it will get worse before it gets better as Saturday's game in sunny conditions was the last hurrah for departing representative halfback William Short and prop Tawhio Gupwell.
Player-coach Andrew Evans even had to move out of the pack into the fullback position while No10 George Williams tried to organise a makeshift backline with team newcomer Jamie Hughes at centre alongside some young players out wide.
For Border, they were nearly at full complement and had all their key men exactly where they needed to be - flanker Kieran Hussey having an excellent match with no Peter Rowe to counteract him, while first-five James Forsyth and second-five Fraser Middleton were able to put together some good attacking impetus.
Border will still want to work on lineout retention, although regular hooker Cole Baldwin was covering the vacant blindside flanker spot, as well as grinding their way out of their own half given early in the match they relied on chip-and-chase tactics - getting pinged a few times for offside by referee Mark Wilson.
But when Border did show patience, one could see last year's continuity was coming back to them, as after coming straight from the cricket pitch, new fullback Nick Harding was dynamic when running the ball back.
Centre Kavenui Dabenaise showed glimpses of his dangerous potential, especially in scoring Border's opening try with stutter steps off both feet and rapid acceleration.
The old hands like No8 Ray Stark aren't going to forget anything over the summer either and steadied Border when they made the typical opening match errors.
"It felt like a preseason game," shrugged Border coach Ross Williams afterwards.
"The main work-on is playing together. Going in, in twos and threes.
"I felt we had pretty good space analysis."
Watching from the sideline, which is still his immediate future, assistant coach Rowe said he was pleased the makeshift team did not give up, as they scored the last try and kept play in Border's territory when it appeared an embarrassing 50-point scoreline was on the cards.
"All you can ask is effort, there's still heaps to do.
"People can turn up. It will definitely be a younger side.
"There's still a few guys undecided. We're getting another one, but then losing two with Willie and that. One step forward, two steps back."
There are still some encouraging signs as new No8 Campbell Hart looks a real prospect, making some surging bursts early on.
Ruapehu actually scored first from a Evans penalty as Border did not enjoy the typical forward grind and were kept pinned in their own half.
When they got on to attack, Dabenaise jinked left and right and burst away with each change of direction to dive over beside the posts.
Ruapehu's forwards gave away a couple of costly turnovers at the breakdown, but Border's wild passes and fumbles meant they weren't capitalising, Harding taking a penalty instead.
Then a chip by halfback Karl Priddle finally reaped reward as Baldwin regathered, fed prop Paul Forsyth, who in turn put hooker Dylan Pearce away for a fine try.
The quick scoring burst deflated Ruapehu, and Border struck again when Harding smashed through and found Baldwin inside, who dragged the cover defence with him to the line for 25-3 at the break.
On a roll, Harding added another penalty before Ruapehu's veterans showed they still have some of the old magic, with Short's run from the scrum setting up Evans, who made the perfect pass in the tackle for winger Cory Carmichael to dash away.
But a bad Ruapehu lineout miss let Hussey snatch the loose ball and the speedy loose forward ran straight through the last line defenders for 35-10.
Border were getting all the breaks as a promising raid by Hughes and Williams saw the ball go down and Border tossed it to winger Isaiah Hooper who pinned the ears back for an 80m try.
After a Dabenaise bust, the ball went wide to Harding, who cut through and slid over in the corner.
Ruapehu had the final say as prop Kim McNaught rumbled forward before Hart crossed the chalk.
Grand Hotel Challenge Shield: Waverley Harvesting Border 47 (Kavenui Dabenaise, Dylan Pearce, Cole Baldwin, Kieran Hussey, Isiaiha Hooper, Nick Harding tries; Harding 3 pen, 4 con) bt McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu 17 (Corey Carmichael, Campbell Hart tries; Andrew Evans pen, George Williams 2 con). HT: 25-3.