Milne was the competition's leading runscorer in first grade last season with 509, and Coward second grade after hitting 440.

On Saturday they put on 138 for the opening wicket to set the foundation for Kookaburras to post an imposing 6-206 from their 40 overs.

It was a good total on what was a tricky wicket to bat on, Milne noting that it was the first time they have scored over 200 at Wolseley Oval in "probably two or three years".

"It was very three-paced and it showed when they batted," Milne said.

Some balls were going through normally, some kicking up and some staying in the pitch. Subsequently despite chalking up a half-century in his first knock for the season (he scored 81), he never really felt in.

He did have a bit of luck. He was dropped twice chipping to mid-wicket. Both times he was about 20 or 30.

Milne's eventual dismissal (caught behind off Tim McDermott) didn't really though provide a lot of a reprieve for Mornington, and as satisfied as he was with his 81 it was more about the performance of the team.

Stepping up from second grade, after returning last season from a bit of a break, Coward showed some promising signs with a patient 41.

"Matt Agostino is also back after a long hiatus and he looked good for his 15," Milne said.

He believes he is primed for a big season.

"He's probably the best timer of a cricket ball I've seen in Gunnedah," he said.

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"He's got shots everywhere and on Saturday he showed what he's got."

New skipper Kris Lodge also batted well for 32.

"There's some good early signs," Milne said.

And not just with the bat, teen trio Ollie Thomas, Lachlan Straney and Braithen Winsor leading the way as they rolled Mornington for 77.

"The two young opening bowlers - Ollie and Lachie - bowled well without luck," he said.

"Both could have had five fours."

Straney finished with 2-19 and Thomas 1-6.

Following them up, Winsor then ripped through the Mornington order, taking 5-19.

"He's a medium pacer that slants them in and then does a little both ways," Milne said.

"He just bowled at the stumps."

That was reflected in the mode of his dismissals with four of them clean bowled.