Bowman stays switched on

HALF-BACK STAR . . . Anthony Bowman.

OLDHAM new boy Anthony Bowman played a pivotal role as Roughyeds won a cliff-hanger in South Wales last weekend.

And though he’s only here for a month, the 21-year-old loan player from Halifax will return to The Shay with fond memories of his time in Oldham.

He made an excellent start in Neath as skipper Lewis Palfrey’s half-back partner, slotting smoothly into the left-side creative job and looking as though he had been playing there all season.

Three of Oldham’s six tries could be attributed directly to the timing of his pass or the accuracy of his defence-splitting kick.

His big challenge is to play like that on his home debut at Whitebank this Sunday.

Visitors Hemel Stags are only one place and two points behind Scott Naylor’s men and they will be buoyed by their 18-10 win against previously-unbeaten leaders North Wales Crusaders.

“It’s going to be another tough game,” said Bowman. “We’ve got to make sure we’ve got our heads switched on from the start. The right mental approach can make all the difference.

“We didn’t play as well as some of the other lads said we could, but we got there in the end and kept our spot in the top three.”

Bowman’s move to Oldham follows a period out of the game with torn ligaments. Halifax boss Karl Harrison advised a move to Oldham on loan would be of benefit.

Said Bowman: “Championship One is a much higher standard than the under-20s league, so I saw the loan move as a good opportunity for me, and that’s how it proved last Sunday.

“I’m really looking forward to the Hemel game, and I know the other boys are too.”