HAT-TRICKS to Orange City duo Joe Lasagavibau and Cameron Cole have thrust the Lions to a 78-5 round one mauling of Blowes Clothing Cup battlers Parkes.
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Played at Pride Park, it took the hosts close to 10 minutes to warm into the opening contest of the 2015 season, with the Boars' enthusiastic start netting the visitors first shot at points inside the opening five minutes.
The left boot of Cam Standen pushed the penalty attempt wide, however, and from there it was all Orange City, with the Lions racing to a 38-0 half-time lead before a further six second half tries put the icing on a very sweet first round victory.
"We've got some pretty classy attackers, which is good to see," Lions co-coach Michael Gray said.
City's No.8 Chris Scoins was particularly devastating with ball in hand, scoring two tries and playing a leading role in three others - his flick pass for Lasagavibau to complete his hat-trick one Benji Marshall would have been proud of.
"When (Scoins) decides to get going I don't think anyone tackled him first up all game," Steve Hamson said, before Gray implored the Lions' new game breaker for more, particularly with Dubbo Roos up next.
"We've always thought he's the best ball-running forward we've got in the club but his second efforts just aren't there," Gray said.
After the slow start and then on the back of the barnstorming Scoins, Lasagavibau scored his first try in City colours before the newly-crowned Lions fullback put skipper Cole through for his first five-pointer four minutes later.
Mesui Lemoto slotted both conversions easily, and, despite their strong start, Parkes were down 14-0 after as many minutes.
The game stuttered for 10 minutes thereafter, with Parkes giant Tohi Tangi and City hooker Chris Senior earning yellow cards for their part in a scuffle on Lions' try line - an incident that bizarrely didn't result in a penalty.
Scoins then put Cole over shortly after, and Lasagavibau, Scoins himself and then Duncan Young crossed before the break to launch City to a 38-0 lead.
It was an advantage that jumped to 66-0 after just 18 minutes of the second period, before Parkes dug a little deeper to stop the rot - an effort that was rewarded with Tangi scoring out wide to bring up the visitors' only points.
And judging on the dejected figures most of the Parkes coaching staff cut after the Boars were put to the slaughter, it could be a long year for the 2011 champions.
"We played a really hot side out there today," long-time Parkes coach Trevor Whitaker said.
"Our problem is so many guys played colts, second grade and then first grade ... it's devastating in the sense the guys that are turning up and putting in have got to play three games.
"As a small club, you've just got to go with it and keep battling on. Nobody seems to be putting their hand up this year to come and play. It's very hard."
For the visitors, Joe Nash was their best player - as he was during second grade, too - with the elusive winger finding space regularly in the City defence.
But whileever Scoins is firing alongside Cole and Lasagavibau - Young was also strong at the breakdown - it's going to be tough for any side in the competition to lift with Orange City.
ORANGE CITY 78 (Joe Lasagavibau 3, Cameron Cole 3, Chris Scoins 2, Mo Amone, Duncan Young, Tatafu Na'aniumotu, Joey Thorley tries; Mesui Lemoto 6, Duncan Young, Sam Dwyer, Tom Nell conv) def PARKES BOARS 5 (Tohi Tangi try).
