Walking off the turf in Parkes as 3-2 victors, the Saints celebrated what was the first win over Panthers since trumping the competition heavyweights in the 2013 grand final.

Since that triumph, the closest Pat’s had come to beating Panthers was a 2-all draw in July 2015.

Saturday’s result was also vastly different from the 11-2 hiding the Saints had copped in their first meeting of 2016.

Not surprisingly, Pat’s coach Jaden Ekert was delighted.

“They’ve been the benchmark of the competition for the last three or four years, really since Pat’s beat them in the grand final in 2013,” Ekert said.

“We missed a couple of chances too, we could’ve scored a few more goals, but that’s to be expected in the first game.”

With the Saints welcoming back experienced players such as Lucy Weal, Carly Hagney and Julie Hanman, as well as having Michelle Somers make the move from Souths, the blue and whites went into the season opener hopeful of a win.

The signs were good in the first half against the defending premiers, Hanman creating an opportunity for Erin Cobrcroft, while Ella Menzies was unlucky to top the ball when shooting after rounding Panthers’ goalkeeper.

But though Pat’s had pressured, it was Panthers who led 1-0 at half-time.

“We dominated most of the game, but we made a silly error in the middle of the field with 10 to go in the first half which cost us a goal,” Ekert said.

“In hindsight we probably should have been 2-0 up at half-time, so to be behind was a bit disheartening when we’d had all the play. One error hurts you.”

However, the Saints did not stay disappointed for long. 

Two goals in five minutes to start the second half – one off a penalty corner play to Kristy Ekert, the other from Hanman – gave the blue and whites a 2-1 lead.

Hanman then made it a double in her return to Premier League Hockey with 10 to go as she blasted the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Panthers managed to pull one back when scoring off a penalty corner with three minutes to go, but the Saints held on to end a drought of more than three years.

“We have been training for 10 weeks, so we have put a lot of preparation into this,” Ekert said.

“When there are only 16 games, if you drop one or two early it can really put you on the back foot, so it was very nice to start with a win.”