By David Nagel
Some say making a first impression is everything in life…well if that’s the case then Aaren Corrin will never forget his first spell of bowling for his brand-new cricket club – Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll on Saturday.
Corrin, who transferred from Lang Lang to Nar Nar Goon over Christmas, experienced a roller-coaster ride against Pakenham in WGCA E Grade on the weekend, starting nervously before finishing in style…claiming the second hattrick of his career.
Corrin would finish with figures of 4/41 from his eight-over spell, bowling one maiden along the way – but that only tells part of the story.
“It didn’t start too good, being my first game with the club I didn’t know the blokes I was playing with, knew nothing about the opposition, so they handed me the ball and I got slog-sweeped for six first ball,” Corrin said.
“The captain asked me if I would like to change the field. I put a player at deep-mid-on and the second ball went straight to him – but he was three-quarters in and the ball landed over his head and went for four.
“I was pretty nervous; it wasn’t the ideal start with a new club.”
The 33-year-old left-arm off-spinner would go for 15 from his first over before changing angles, going from over to around the wicket and going for just two in his second over.
“That felt better, I started to get into a rhythm then.”
Corrin, who lives in Hampton Park with his wife Mellissa and three children, Cooper John, Ethan and Nevaeh, made the switch from Lang Lang to Nar Nar Goon to provide a fresh start to the new year for both he and his young family.
A strong connection with Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll coach Mansoor Ahmad – who coached Corrin when both played at Aura Vale three years ago – was another magnetising force when it came to changing clubs.
“Manny worded up the captain (Brandon Interlandi) that I could bowl a bit, but I don’t know what he was thinking after two balls,” Corrin said with a chuckle.
It may not have been obviously clear from the outset, but Ahmad was spot on in his assessment of Corrin – whose previous record suggests he certainly could bowl a bit.
Playing for another previous club, Kooweerup, back in 2016, Corrin claimed a hat-trick in D Grade against Emerald, finishing with the impressive figures of 6/22.
And then last season, playing for Lang Lang, Corrin bagged career-best figures of 6/18 to lead the Swamp Tigers to victory over Cranbourne Meadows.
But Saturday at Toomuc Reserve, taking on the Lions, well that threw up some difficult new challenges to overcome.
The Marygoons had made some early breakthroughs, having the Lions 3/26 at one stage, before Pakenham skipper Scott Webster (61) and veteran superstar Dale McCraw (55) put on an 84-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Now settled, Corrin would break the partnership in his third over, taking out McCraw’s off stump, before finding his rhythm and bowling a much-improved spell.
It was his eighth and final over when that first impression with his teammates went from a little shaky to something none of them would forget in a hurry.
Webster, who attempted a similar slog sweep to the one that cleared the ropes off Corrin’s first ball, skied his mistimed shot and was caught by Daniel Rodger, before James Ahern became Corrin’s second victim.
“He had spooned a ball earlier to cover, so we put a short-cover in and sure enough he hit it straight to him,” Corrin recalled.
“I was then on a hattrick…but kept the same field.”
The final battle to overcome was not an easy assignment, with Pakenham batter Mick McLaren an experienced campaigner who has seen it all on a cricket field.
“I pitched it up, he came forward, it hit him on the pads and we all went up like crazy,” Corrin said.
“I really didn’t think his teammate was going to give it…but his finger went up and it was all very exciting.
“I was excited, especially being my first game for the Goon, to actually go out and do something that’s not an easy thing to do was a memorable experience.
“I’ve been lucky enough to do it before, so it wasn’t new to me, but the other guys were all pretty excited as well.
“Everyone had found out about it by the time we got back to the club and clapped me as I got out of the car, it was a good feeling, being my first game, having everyone congratulate me like that was a really good feeling.”
That, Aaren Corrin, is how you make a good first impression!
