Past driving future of duo
THE rise of Angus Blyth since winning Bond University’s John Eales Rugby Excellence Scholarship has 2018 recipients Maxwell Dowd and Lachlan Connors striving for success.
Dowd is a fullback who captained The Southport School to glory this year. No.8 Connors, the nephew of 1999 World Cup winner Mark Connors, also captained his school – St Patrick’s College in the Brisbane suburb of Shorncliffe.
In his first year at Bond, Blyth has gone on to play Queensland Premier Rugby, represent Australia at under-20 level and be a consistent figure in Queensland Country’s NRC triumph.
An “over the moon” Dowd said he took optimism from what the pathway had done for his good mate Blyth, also known as “Pete”.
“Pete has come a long way from last year and he has done a lot this year so if that’s what the trend is of all the scholarship winners, I’m in for a good year next year,” he said.
“But obviously I have got to work hard for that.”
Only two years ago Dowd played league for Queensland in under-16 State of Origin as a five-eighth but ultimately fell in love with union.
Dowd and Connors, both 18, are eager to study architecture and exercise science respectively. Mentor Eales said: “Having been an amateur and then professional rugby player, I have a good idea of what they’ve got ahead of them, so hopefully my perspective and advice will be useful.”