But Chorley started brightly, ex-Hornet Phil Harrison making good yards through the home side's defence.
Despite that, Hornets opened their account after six minutes - Watson finding Wood in support with a neat pass.
Six minutes later he repeated the action with Mick Coates the recipient. Wood Converted both, 12-nil.
Lynx were still looking dangerous on attack and scored an outrageous try through Fisher who picked up and touched down the ball he'd just dropped over the line. Mad and blind referee Farrell chose to ignore the blatant knock on and gave the try in an attempt to keep the game a contest.
Not that it mattered much. Buncey weighed in with his first after 25 minutes followed by Dave Larder who took advantage of winger Doherty's lack of bowel control under a steepling Coates bomb. At 22-6 Hornets were looking comfortable, but the five minutes before half time saw a new, ruthless Hornets put Chorley to the breadknife.
Firstly Watto gratefully accepted 50 free yards up the centre of the park, Coates sold the dummy and collected his second. Then Watson found Sculthorpe who engineered both the gap and a perfectly timed pass for Marlon Miller to sprint into the corner from 40 yards.
Then Sculthorpe charged through the centre channel, sucked in defenders, popped a beautiful ball up for Bunce who showed traces of his ex-winger's pedigree to go in for his brace. Half time 36-6, Hornets' fans delighted, Chorley fans shellshocked and debating whether they could get home for the Blackburn/Burnley game at 4.00 (true!).
As the final score suggests, Hornets took their foot off the gas in the second half. Sculthorpe played no further part, O'Meara was rested having put in an impressive defensive stint and various other players were rotated, rested and removed at regular intervals.
Highlight of the second half was a brace of tries for Casey Mayberry who showed good pace and handling skills.
As the game fizzled out, Lynx grabbed a late try from Capewell as scant reward for their efforts.
All in all a pleasing afternoon. At times Hornets displayed the killer touch they'll need this season and, even though the second half lacked the intensity and rhythm of the first, they showed that they're capable of doing enough even without key playmakers on the field. Plenty of good stuff for Martin Hall to build on in the run-up to the big one with the Biffs