The two sides traded tries in the opening period however the boot of Roos' five-eighth Hamish Gordon gave the visitors a 21-17 lead at the break, although the Lions did push ahead in the second half an Anthony Golding try eventually pushed Roos over the line.

Orange City mentor Viv Paasi said he liked what he saw from his side despite the loss, which actually netted the Lions two bonus points and lifts them off the bottom of the competition standings.

That combined with their showing against Cowra in round one is enough to suggest the Lions won't be easybeats by any means in 2019, while the win was Roos' first of the season.

"Obviously we didn't get the win but things are starting to come together in regards to our attack," Paasi said.

"There were still some defensive lapses that really let us down and we probably missed the opportunity to build some pressure at different times in the game.

"But that last six or seven minutes was really good from us, I thought we went really well. It was just unfortunate we couldn't get any (more) points."

A notable improvement was the Lions' scrum which, led by experienced skipper Josh Tremain in the front-row, had the better of the heavier Dubbo pack.

"We've been working hard on that," Paasi said.

"We've come up against two really good scrummaging sides the first two rounds and we've been working very hard and making sure that a really stable thing for us.

"Today it showed we've got a couple of tightheads and we were able to hold our ball in the scrum."

Both sides crossed the stripe three times in the opening period, with Gordon converting all three of Dubbo's to win a four-point lead at the half-time break.

They did the same after the break and although Orange City's depth was tested after four player were forced from the field with injury, Duncan Young's 48^th minute penalty goal pushed the Lions in front at 27-26.

An upset looked a real possibility but Golding's try, which Gordon duly converted, ensured the visitors left Pride Park with five competition points.

"We're pretty happy to get the win, we needed the points," Dubbo coach Simon Petelo said.

"Orange City really brought it today and our guys dug deep and continued with the systems and we're happy to get away with the win."

Paasi said Duncan Young played like a "man possessed" in his 150th game, while he also praised the work of debutants Colin McGregor and Fletcher Rose, playing in the second and back rows, respectively.

"I was really happy with the new guys who came into the team (and) Duncan Young was outstanding today. Tom Nell was good as well. There was a lot of good individual efforts," Paasi said.

"We've just got to keep working off the back of what we're doing. I know it's starting to sound like a bit of a broken record. We've got Forbes next week."

Paasi did admit to being a touch worried about the Lions' building casualty ward, but said he'll wait until mid-week to take stock, once the damage is confirmed or otherwise.

"There was quite a few (injuries) in the back end there. I'm not too sure what the toll and what we're looking like at the moment. Our casualty ward is starting to grow a bit and that obviously eats into our depth and makes it very hard," he said.