🔗 Share this article

The home side's offensive weaknesses were exposed and punished by a clinical Australia as the visitors secured a worryingly straightforward win in the first match of the rugby league Ashes series.

The England coach's team had spoken effusively about their motivation going into the opening series for over two decades, and they were definitely full of effort at the famous stadium. Yet, in the crucial moments, it was the world champions who displayed more calmness in front of a record attendance for an Ashes Test in the UK of over sixty thousand spectators.

Brilliant Display from Reece Walsh

Led by an exceptional display in offense and defense from club star Walsh, Australia were deserving and convincing winners in the opening Test of the three-game contest, meaning the hosts must win at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday to keep alive their hopes of a series victory since the 1970s.

They will have to be much better with the possession if they are to achieve that. On multiple occasions in the first half, the home team found themselves in advantageous situations but they were failed to score for any tries. That was in no small part thanks to Walsh, who pulled off two wonderful interceptions.

Key Moments of the Match

The initial occurred as Farnworth seemed certain to put Dom Young in for what would have been the first score, then the fullback denied Mikey Lewis as half-time approached. By then, the Kangaroos had gone ahead as Walsh himself completed a wonderful play.

Nathan Cleary converted before kicking a two-pointer on the brink of the interval to establish a two-score advantage. It was a significant moment, as was the try for Crichton soon after the restart which made it 14-0 in favor of the visitors. England now had to score three times and that seemed to stifle their momentum.

Should there have been uncertainty about the winners, they were firmly put to bed with 15 minutes to go. Cameron Munster’s half-break was supported by Crichton, who broke through Jack Welsby for Australia’s third try.

That made it twenty to zero and there was further humiliation in the closing stages as Reece Walsh finished another scintillating attack, exploiting a weary and clearly exhausted England defensive line for his second.

Match Result and Looking Ahead

By then, home fans had begun to leave early and many did not see Daryl Clark’s consolation, which at least prevented the home side being held to nil. Nonetheless, there are plenty of questions for Wane to address going into what is now a must-win match next weekend.

• Home Side: Welsby; Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone; Williams, Lewis; Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Knowles.
• Substitutes: Litten, Walmsley, Trout, McMeeken.
• Tries: Daryl Clark.
• Conversion: Lewis.

• Australia: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
• Interchange: Dearden, Collins, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
• Tries: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
• Goals: Cleary 5.