Saul Halpin, as he did with Biss, again became provider with an educated corner kick that Angus Kilkolly nodded into the goalmouth in the 46th minute for a 2-1 lead.
Midfielder Josh Stevenson made it 3-1 from a 30m humdinger that only a left-footer could execute from the centre of the field and a goal that would give goalkeeper Reed Collingwood recurring nightmares for a few weeks.
Hailemariam gave the Canaries some hope in the 67th minute, 3-2, with some more individual brilliance to leave Rovers reserve goalkeeper Kyle Baxter stranded, but in the 72nd minute go-to man Halpin conjured more wizardry for Stevenson to nod in another goal, 4-2, to destroy Lower Hutt's soul.
Milne felt the visitors put up the storm shutters quite well in the first half but the Blues were guilty of trying to play through it rather than around it.
"When we were more direct we were more physical so that was a tactical change that helped us a little bit."
The resurgent second spell that yielded a brace was the result of adhering to the game plan, which also saw them assert dominance.
"It was about exploring the width to go more direct and trying to pick up the second ball so we could make the most of the higher position up the field."
Milne said they were thrilled to be back on track and retain their position on the top of the table.
"It's important that we keep moving forward in the league but we also have an important Chatham Cup game on Monday which is equally important if we want to achieve what we set out to at the start of the season."
Loss aside, Milne said with a deep squad the intention always was to give game time to other players because it was imperative to see through a rigorous season in the quest of the league/cup double as well as keeping the O'Brien Shield in the clubrooms.
Milne said teenage midfielder Ross Willox made a solid starting XI debut.
"He's got a good future playing for Hawke's Bay United and the Rovers since coming to the region and that's what we were expecting from him," he said of the Glaswegian who arrived in the Bay as a 7-year-old before honing his skills at the Bay United academy that Jonathan Gould helped establish as the inaugural franchise coach.
Were captain Danny Wilson and midfielder Ryan Tinsley's relegation to the bench a consequence of 'heads must roll' for the maiden loss this winter, or was it simply an opportune time to offer non-starters the chance to grind their teeth?
"We've had a few changes this week so I was lucky enough to wear the armband," Milne said but it was familiar territory for the Hawke's Bay United captain from Palmerston North, who revealed the team intended to share that responsibility around. Perhaps what surfaced most about halfway through the league campaign is Halpin as a playmaker.
Despite scoring four goals this season, he has unselfishly created chances for others to savour the elation. His beneficiaries include Kikolly on seven goals, Biss on four and Stephenson on three.
