🔗 Share this article

The home side's offensive weaknesses were laid bare and capitalized on by a ruthless Australian side as the tourists secured a worryingly straightforward victory in the opening Test of the rugby league Ashes series.

Shaun Wane’s team had spoken effusively about their drive going into the opening series for 22 years, and they were certainly not short on endeavour at the famous stadium. However, in the crucial moments, it was the reigning title holders who displayed more calmness in front of a record attendance for an Ashes Test in the United Kingdom of over sixty thousand spectators.

Brilliant Display from Walsh

Led by an outstanding display in offense and defense from Brisbane Broncos’ Reece Walsh, Australia were deserving and convincing victors in the first match of the three-game contest, meaning England must triumph at Goodison Park next weekend to keep alive their hopes of a first Ashes win since the 1970s.

They will have to be significantly improved with the ball if they are to achieve that. On multiple occasions in the first half, the home team found themselves in promising positions but they were unable to cross for any points. That was in no small part thanks to Reece Walsh, who executed two wonderful turnovers.

Key Moments of the Game

The first came as Farnworth seemed destined to put Dom Young in for what would have been the opening try, then the fullback denied Lewis as half-time approached. By then, the Australians had taken the lead as Reece Walsh himself completed a excellent move.

Nathan Cleary added the extras before adding a penalty on the stroke of the interval to establish a eight-point advantage. It was a significant point, as was the score for Crichton shortly after the resumption which made it fourteen to nil in favour of the Kangaroos. The hosts now had to cross the line thrice and that seemed to halt their momentum.

Should there have been uncertainty about the winners, they were decisively settled 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 final minutes as Walsh completed another scintillating move, exploiting a tired and clearly exhausted English defense for his second.

Final Score and Outlook

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

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

• Visitors: Starting lineup.
• Interchange: Reserves.
• Scores: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
• Kicks: Cleary 5.