A flair that was most evident when Ahungarangi Whanarere was injected into the game at goal attack in the third quarter with Te Wai Potaka-Osborne moving back to goal shoot.
Whanarere was clear in her intent to look directly into the goal circle which encouraged her side to do the same.
This was backed up with some solid shooting from Potaka-Osborne.
On the other bench, coach Raven Steele, who has only been with the side for one week, took the opportunity with a 12-goal buffer at halftime to sideline players.
The team struggled to adapt to the open style employed by Kaiwhaiki in the third quarter but a reintroduction of players from the bench in the fourth saw them hold their own to take the game.
Meanwhile, East Club Sportsedge beat Mint Cafe Marist A1, also 52-44.
Marist coach Sharon Kaua was wanting her team to focus on doing the basics well.
She was proud of their effort to close the gap during the third quarter but said unforced errors and an inability to finish off led to their demise.
Despite leading at every break, Sportsedge coach Trish Anstis was unhappy with the high number of turnovers from her side.
However, she was pleased to come away with the win.
The pressure exerted by Julie Rowan and Terehia Gardiner in the defensive circle was key to the turnover ball they secured at the backend of the game.
A solid game from goal attack Victoria Anstis saw her shoot 92 per cent in the second half.
After an unsettling start to the season with players unavailable, coach Marama Cameron was philosophical about her young Wanganui Collegiate side, saying what they may lack in experience, they could up make up for in determination.
But it wasn't enough to stop them going to down to Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau A1 47-36.
With only one player on the interchange bench and trailing by three after the first quarter, Collegiate won the second quarter to pull it back to a one-point deficit at halftime.
This prompted changes from last year's runners-up Kaierau (also coached by Cameron but led by Mel Crothers on the night).
Clare Lynch came on at wing defence and Amy Archer moved to wing attack.
Kaierau displayed prowess in the third quarter with a goal surge led by Suzanne Guilford who netted 14 from 15 to give her team a 13-goal buffer at the break.
Collegiate held their own in the final quarter, eventually going down 47-36.
In the earlier match, defending champions Phillips Electrical Wanganui High School A1 beat newcomers Ruapehu 61-41.
High School were never really challenged and, despite the comfortable victory, coach Lisa Murphy wanted more intensity from her young side.
