🔗 Share this article

England's offensive weaknesses were exposed and punished by a ruthless Australia as the visitors secured a worryingly straightforward win in the first match of the rugby league Ashes series.

The England coach's team had talked at length about their drive going into the first Ashes for over two decades, and they were certainly not short on endeavour at Wembley. However, in the key instances, it was the world champions who displayed more calmness in front of a record attendance for an Ashes Test in the UK of more than 60,000.

Brilliant Display from Walsh

Guided by an exceptional display in attack and defence from club star Reece Walsh, Australia were deserving and convincing victors in the first match of the three-game contest, meaning England must win at Goodison Park next Saturday to sustain their aspirations of a series victory since 1970.

England 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 tries. That was in no small part thanks to Walsh, who executed two wonderful turnovers.

Crucial Plays of the Match

The first came as Farnworth seemed certain to put Young in for what would have been the first score, then Walsh stopped Mikey Lewis as the break neared. By then, the Kangaroos had taken the lead as Reece Walsh himself finished a wonderful move.

Cleary added the extras before kicking a penalty on the brink of half-time to open up a two-score advantage. It was a pivotal moment, as was the try for Crichton soon after the restart which made it 14-0 in favour of the visitors. England now had to score three times and that seemed to halt their drive.

If there were any doubt about the winners, they were decisively settled with 15 minutes to go. Munster's half-break was backed up by Crichton, who broke through Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.

That made it twenty to zero and there was added disappointment in the final minutes as Reece Walsh finished another scintillating attack, taking advantage of a tired and clearly exhausted English defense for his second.

Final Score and Looking Ahead

By then, local supporters had begun to leave early and many did not see Clark's late try, which at least prevented the home side finishing scoreless. Nonetheless, there are many issues for the coach to address going into what is now a do-or-die Test next weekend.

• England: Full team lineup.
• Interchange: Litten, Walmsley, Trout, McMeeken.
• Try: Daryl Clark.
• Goal: Mikey Lewis.

• Visitors: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
• Interchange: Dearden, Collins, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
• Scores: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
• Goals: Cleary 5.