Walsh Takes Center Stage as Dominant The Kangaroos Defeat England Away in First Ashes Match
The home side's attacking frailties were exposed and punished by a ruthless Australian side as the visitors secured a surprisingly comfortable win in the opening Test of the rugby league Ashes series.
Shaun Wane’s side had talked at length about their drive going into the opening series for 22 years, and they were certainly not short on effort at Wembley. However, in the crucial moments, it was the reigning title holders who showed more calmness in front of a historic crowd for an Ashes Test in the United Kingdom of more than 60,000.
Outstanding Display from Reece Walsh
Led by an outstanding showing in attack and defence from Brisbane Broncos’ Walsh, Australia were worthy and comfortable winners in the opening Test of the three-match series, meaning England must triumph at Goodison Park next Saturday to keep alive their hopes of a series victory since 1970.
England will have to be much better with the possession if they are to achieve that. On several instances in the opening period, the hosts found themselves in promising positions but they were failed to score for any points. That was in large measure thanks to Reece Walsh, who executed two wonderful turnovers.
Crucial Plays of the Game
The initial occurred as Farnworth seemed destined to put Dom Young in for what would have been the first score, then the fullback denied Lewis as half-time neared. By then, the Australians had taken the lead as Reece Walsh himself finished a excellent move.
Cleary converted before adding a penalty on the brink of the interval to open up a two-score lead. It was a pivotal moment, as was the try for Angus 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 victors, they were firmly put to bed with 15 minutes to go. Cameron Munster’s line break was supported by Crichton, who pushed past Jack Welsby for Australia’s third try.
That made it twenty to zero and there was added disappointment in the closing stages as Walsh finished another breathtaking attack, exploiting a tired and visibly shot English defense for his second.
Final Score and Outlook
By then, local supporters had begun to filter out and many did not see Daryl Clark’s consolation, which at least prevented the home side being held to nil. Nonetheless, there are many issues for the coach to answer 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: Daryl Clark.
- Conversion: Lewis.
- Australia: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
- Interchange: Reserves.
- Tries: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
- Goals: Cleary 5.
