And in Saturday’s round one clash against Wanderers, Nic Milne’s striking was first class.

The Orange product was in fine form for his club side, Lithgow Panthers, the gun striker blazing a hat-trick to help lead his side to a 7-0 thumping of Wanderers at Orange Hockey Complex.

It was always going to be a tough first round encounter for Mark Pengilly’s side, the Wanderers mentor admitted as much in the lead-up.

Clinical the best way to describe the triumph from the defending champions. Taylor Dolbel also bagged a double in the win, the perfect start to 2017 for Panthers.