Inter-town contests were special elements in the development of viable rugby union in country centres. The 1899 inter-district programme for Dubbo was deliberately modest but sufficiently varied to arouse and maintain player interest. The first of these fixtures on Saturday, 29 July was a convenient double-header programme in which a large Dubbo contingent visited Wellington. Then two Dubbo teams tried their skill against a Wellington and a Burrell Creek team.
Jack Hives, jrn was chosen to captain the Dubbo side as well as for future combined team matches for the rest of the season. T. H. Tourle was appointed as vice-captain under similar conditions. Selectors announced the Dubbo team as: J. Craig, H. Heane, J. Hives, K. Wilkins, E B. Wooding, W. Hives, N. Hives, W. Beahan, Eastcott, J. Martin, G. Rich, A. Samuels, G. Taylor, T. H. Tourle, M. Cronin, T. R. Baird, A. Wheeler, F. Lane, P. Frawley, T. Samuels, E. Brownlow, C. Frawley.
In their first major away match the Dubbo club met with mixed success. Wellington won a hard fought, close encounter. Earlier, the hopes of Dubbo returning home with a clean sweep was encouraged by their one-sided win over the Burrell Creek team Five other inter-town games were played in that initial season. Dubbo enjoyed a win and a draw against Narromine. In the two other matches between Dubbo and Wellington, both played at Dubbo, the host team had its revenges for its earlier defeats. Dubbo won its Saturday, 26 August encounter by 14 points to 5 and the Saturday,13 September game, the last of the season, by 13 points to 6.
The last game of the season proved to be a fitting and very encouraging finale for the Dubbo Rugby Club`s initial year as an organised body. Rivalry between Wellington and Dubbo had grown once Dubbo had begun to challenge Wellington`s pre-eminence as the top community of their region.
Preparations for the game were taken seriously. At Wellington`s urging, Pat Flanagan, a well credentialled referee from Orange, was appointed to control the contest.
The match brought together two sides worthy of the occasion. The teams were: Dubbo: back, P. Frawley; three-quarters, J. Hives, W. Wilkins, G. Taylor; five-eighths, T. H. Tourle (captain), T. R. Baird; half, N. Hives; winds, T. Samuels, Alf Wheeler; forwards, E. B. Wooding, G. Rich, A. Samuels, Art Wheeler, H. Heap, J. Craig.
Wellington: backs, Bruce; three-quarters, Smith, Clifford, Tease; five-eighths, Robinson, Howie; half, Jennings; winds, Keane, Flanagan; forwards, O`Meara, the Broderick brothers, Quirk, Pound, Sullivan.
The first half had the teams closely poised; Wellington 6 points and Dubbo 5 points. Dubbo won the contest by 13 points to 6. Euphoria was at fever pitch at game`s end. Spectators invested much more in personal costs to attend such events than is the case to-day.
Home team administrators, supporters and players in rural areas became noted for their efforts as generous hosts. The Dubbo hosts did not let their town down. First, incoming mayor of Dubbo, R. J. J. Ryan, a solicitor and rugby enthusiast, spontaneously treated the visitors and locals to "refreshments" at Moston`s (now the Pastoral) Hotel. The nature of the hospitality provided by Jack Hives, snr. from 8.30 p.m. for players and supporters of both sides at the Royal Hotel suggests a quaint, older world attitude as well as Hives, snr`s jubilation at Dubbo` triumph that day. He provided what was called "a champagne spread".
With the inaugural season of Dubbo rugby union ending on such a buoyant note, administrators had every reason to feel optimistic about the immediate future of the code. The post-Wellington v Dubbo euphoria was more soberly expressed in the proceedings of a general meeting of the Newtown Club at the Exchange Hotel on Monday evening, 22 September. Ostensibly only for Newtown Club, the meeting was really a convenient gathering of the solid core of Dubbo`s rugby union partisans to take stock and to make plans for the 1900 season.
Jack Hives, jnr chairing the occasion greeted a large gathering. Secretary, W. E. Tink had far brighter news to relate of the 1899 season than he had for 1898. Some 39 members had joined the club. This solid backbone of active supporters meant good financial tidings. The club had received £5/-/6 for the season, had expenditures of £4/15/4,leaving a credit balance of 5/2. The credit was not a princely sum but after a busy programme the club was on the right side of the bank`s ledger. The sums involved indicate how simple and near to the bone the fortunes of rugby organisations in Dubbo were as they approached a new century.
And what was the fate of the trophies donated at the beginning of 1899? S. J. Cadman`s gift of a half-guinea trophy for the most unselfish player was awarded to T. Tourle; Herman Fischer`s silver and gold medal for the best forward was earned by E. Wooding; and George Roth`s trophy for the best man in the back division was won yet again by J. Hives, jnr. M. J. Mitchell`s football and the Ross silver cup became the possessions of the Newtown Club for their two to nil triumph over the Ormonde Club in their three match local competition in the opening sessions of the 1899 season.
