Walsh Shines as Dominant The Kangaroos Defeat The Hosts Away in First Ashes Test
England's offensive weaknesses were exposed and punished by a clinical Australia as the visitors secured a surprisingly comfortable victory 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 certainly not short on endeavour at Wembley. Yet, in the key instances, 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.
Outstanding Performance from Walsh
Led by an exceptional showing in offense and defense from Brisbane Broncos’ Walsh, Australia were deserving and convincing winners in the first match of the three-game contest, meaning England must triumph at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday to keep alive their hopes of a first Ashes win since the 1970s.
They will have to be much better with the ball if they are to achieve that. On several instances in the opening period, the home team found themselves in advantageous situations but they were unable to cross for any points. That was in no small part thanks to Reece Walsh, who executed two wonderful turnovers.
Crucial Plays of the Match
The first came as Farnworth seemed certain to put Dom Young in for what would have been the first score, then Walsh denied Lewis as half-time approached. By then, the Australians had taken the lead as Walsh himself completed a wonderful move.
Nathan Cleary converted before kicking a penalty on the brink of the interval to open up a two-score advantage. It was a pivotal point, as was the try for Crichton shortly after the restart which made it fourteen to nil in favour of the Kangaroos. The hosts 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 a quarter-hour to go. Munster's line break was supported by Crichton, who pushed past Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.
That made it twenty to zero and there was added disappointment in the closing stages as Reece Walsh finished another breathtaking attack, taking advantage of a weary and visibly shot English defense for his second.
Final Score and Looking Ahead
By then, local supporters had begun to leave early and many missed Daryl Clark’s late try, which at least avoided England being held to nil. Nonetheless, there are plenty of questions for Wane to answer going into what is now a must-win Test next weekend.
- England: Full team lineup.
- Substitutes: Litten, Walmsley, Trout, McMeeken.
- Try: Clark.
- Goal: Mikey Lewis.
- Visitors: Starting lineup.
- Interchange: Dearden, Collins, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
- Tries: Reece Walsh (two), Angus Crichton (two).
- Kicks: Nathan Cleary (five).
