NICK Murphy had an instant impact on his debut at Woodbank after switching from local rivals Walshaw.

The young all-rounder scored an unbeaten 47 and took 3-45 as his new club cruised to a 97-run win at Glossop.

It was Woodbank’s third straight victory and moved them up to fourth in the Greater Manchester League Premier Division.

Murphy’s former team, meanwhile, are still searching for their first win of the campaign after winning promotion alongside Woodbank last season. Walshaw fell to an eight-wicket defeat at Bamford Fieldhouse, another newly promoted side.

It is Woodbank’s form, however, that is catching the eye. Professional John Whitehead took the game away from the hosts, scoring 23 boundaries in a classy 151 from 142 balls.

His big century helped the visitors to post a commanding total of 290-8, but it could have been a different story had Nick Murphy not provided much-needed support.

When the ex-Walshaw junior came to the crease the Woodbank total was in the balance at 131-6.

The pair took the tally along to 260-7 before Whitehead fell victim to Glossop’s Cole Turner, who took 5-51.

Nick Murphy was joined at the crease by his brother Tom, who switched Walshaw for Woodbank in the summer, who added a quick-fire 13.

By that time, however, Woodbank were already in the driving seat and they remained there after the home side came in to bat.

Nick Murphy removed Glossop’s top three batsmen, reducing them to 56-3, and their reply never got going after that.

Nick Kennedy weighed in with 4-56 as the hosts were bowled out for 193.

Adil Mustafa’s 4-45 put Walshaw on the back foot early in the game at Bamford Fieldhouse.

Danny Holland top scored with 28 as the visitors were bowled out for 128, with seven batsmen failing to make it into double figures.

Bamford opener Samuel Felix scored an unbeaten 50 as they comfortably reached their target inside 28 overs.

BURY opened their Greater Manchester League Premier Division account at the fourth time of asking after beating reigning champions Egerton at home by 31 runs.

Jon Wiggans and Kasun Adikari scored 38 and 33, respectively, for the hosts as they moved along to 106-4 in the bottom-of-the-table clash.

But then Bolton-born Lancashire CC spinner Matt Parkinson gave Egerton hope. He helped slow the run-rate and finished with figures of 4-50 as Bury closed on 157-9.

Egerton failed to build on Parkinson’s platform, losing their opening five wickets for just 43 runs.

Dave Hamnett steadied the ship with a knock of 52 in the middle order but with little support he was bowled out by Casmond Walters (4-21) as their fightback petered out.

The result moved Bury up to third bottom after starting the campaign with three straight defeats.

Brooksbottom bounced back from their first defeat of the Division Two campaign to claim a 69-run win at Wythenshawe.

Paul Hopton (30) and Oliver Argyle (28) put on a stand of 53 for the opening wicket before Moshin Iqbal took over with a flashing 62 and overseas amateur David Schierhout finished unbeaten on 50.

Their total of 216-4 was never under any serious threat as a fifer from David Brown (5-25) and 3-51 from Iqbal helped dismiss Wythenshawe for 147.

There was no joy elsewhere in Division Two as Elton fell to a five-wicket defeat at Astley and Tyldesley and Edenfield suffered their first defeat of the campaign, by 57 runs at South West Manchester.

The results left Edenfield in third and Brooksbottom sixth, although both have 17 points.

Elton Vale are third in Division Three after a 40-run victory at home to Swinton Moorside seconds. Mohammed Sajid was the star of the show, top scoring with 32 in their 145, before taking 4-14, while Zaheer Abbas took 3-18 and Ali Shah 2-11.

Blackley forfeited their match against Tottington St Johns in Division Four West after failing to put out a team.

Results

Saturday

GMCL Premier Division: Bamford Fieldhouse 132-2 Walshaw 128, Bamford Fieldhouse won by 8 wkts. Bury 157-9 Egerton 126, Bury won by 31 runs. Glossop 193 Woodbank 290-8, Woodbank won by 97 runs.

Division One: Greenmount 209-8 Edgworth 198, Greenmount won by 11 runs. Unsworth 211-7 Stand 209, Unsworth won by 3 wkts.

Division Two: Astley & Tyldesley 99-5 Elton 98, A&T won by 5 wkts. South West Manchester 216-6 Edenfield 158, South West Manchester won by 58 runs. Wythenshawe 147 Brooksbottom 216-4, Brooksbottom won by 69 runs.

Division Three: Bolton Deane & Derby 186 Radcliffe 146, Bolton D&D won by 40 runs. Elton Vale 145 Swinton Moorside 2nd XI 105, Elton Vale won by 40 runs.

Division Four West: Elton 2nd XI 189 ELPM 119, Elton 2nd won by 70 runs. Tottington St Johns beat Blackley, Tottington St Johns won by default.

Fixtures

Saturday

GMCL Premier Division: Walshaw v Bury, Woodbank v Prestwich.

Division One: Dukinfield v Unsworth, Worsley v Greenmount.

Division Two: Brooksbottom v South West Manchester, Edenfield v Hindley St Peters, Elton v Whalley Range.

Division Three: Littleborough Lakeside v Elton Vale, Radcliffe v Denton West 2nd XI.

Division Four West: ELPM v Tottington St Johns.

Lancashire League: Ramsbottom v Nelson.

Sunday

LCB Knockout: Leyland v Bury, Ramsbottom v Glossop.