The home side's offensive weaknesses were laid bare and capitalized on by a clinical Australian side as the visitors swept to a worryingly straightforward victory in the opening Test of the rugby league Ashes series.
Shaun Wane’s team had spoken effusively about their motivation going into the opening series for over two decades, and they were certainly not short on effort at the famous stadium. Yet, in the key instances, it was the reigning title holders who displayed more calmness in front of a historic crowd for an series match in the UK of over sixty thousand spectators.
Brilliant Performance from Reece Walsh
Led by an outstanding display in attack and defence from club star Reece Walsh, Australia were deserving and convincing victors in the opening Test of the three-match series, meaning the hosts must triumph at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium 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 accomplish that goal. On multiple occasions in the opening period, the hosts found themselves in promising positions but they were failed to score for any points. That was in no small part thanks to Reece Walsh, who executed two wonderful turnovers.
Crucial Plays of the Game
The first came as Herbie Farnworth seemed destined to put Dom Young in for what would have been the opening try, then Walsh denied Mikey Lewis as the break neared. By then, the Australians had gone ahead as Reece Walsh himself completed a excellent play.
Cleary converted before adding a penalty on the brink of the interval to establish a eight-point lead. It was a pivotal point, as was the try for Crichton soon after the restart which made it 14-0 in favor of the visitors. The hosts now had to cross the line thrice and that seemed to halt their momentum.
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 further humiliation in the final minutes as Walsh completed another scintillating move, exploiting a tired and clearly exhausted England defensive line for his second try.
Final Score and Looking Ahead
By then, local supporters had begun to filter out and many did not see Clark's late try, which at least prevented the home side finishing scoreless. Nonetheless, there are plenty of questions for Wane to address going into what is now a must-win Test next weekend.
- England: Full team lineup.
- Interchange: Bench players.
- Tries: Daryl Clark.
- Goal: Lewis.
- Australia: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
- Bench: Reserves.
- Tries: Reece Walsh (two), Angus Crichton (two).
- Goals: Cleary 5.
