🔗 Share this article

England's offensive weaknesses were exposed and punished by a clinical Australian side as the tourists secured a surprisingly comfortable win in the first match of the rugby league Ashes series.

Shaun Wane’s side had talked at length about their drive going into the first Ashes for 22 years, and they were definitely full of effort at Wembley. Yet, in the crucial moments, it was the world champions who displayed more calmness in front of a record attendance for an series match in the UK of more than 60,000.

Brilliant Performance from Reece Walsh

Led by an outstanding display in offense and defense from Brisbane Broncos’ Walsh, Australia were worthy and comfortable winners in the first match of the three-game contest, meaning England must triumph at Goodison Park next weekend to sustain their aspirations of a series victory since 1970.

They will have to be significantly improved with the ball if they are to achieve that. On multiple occasions in the opening period, the home team found themselves in promising positions but they were failed to score for any points. That was in large measure thanks to Walsh, who pulled off two superb turnovers.

Key Moments of the Game

The first came as Farnworth seemed certain to put Dom Young in for what would have been the first score, then the fullback stopped Mikey Lewis as the break approached. By then, the Australians had gone ahead as Walsh himself completed a excellent play.

Cleary added the extras before kicking a two-pointer on the stroke of the interval to establish a eight-point lead. It was a pivotal point, as was the try for Crichton soon after the resumption which made it fourteen to nil in favor of the visitors. England now had to score three times and that seemed to halt their drive.

Should there have been uncertainty about the winners, they were decisively settled with 15 minutes to go. Cameron Munster’s line break was supported by Angus Crichton, who broke through Welsby for Australia’s third try.

That made it 20-0 and there was added disappointment in the final minutes as Walsh completed another breathtaking move, exploiting a tired and clearly exhausted England defense for his second.

Match Result and Looking Ahead

By then, local supporters had begun to leave early and many missed Daryl Clark’s consolation, which at least prevented the home side being held to nil. However, there are many issues for the coach to address going into what is now a do-or-die Test next Saturday.

• 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.

• Australia: Starting lineup.
• Bench: Reserves.
• Scores: Reece Walsh (two), Angus Crichton (two).
• Kicks: Cleary 5.