Reece Walsh Shines as Ruthless Australia Defeat England Away in First Ashes Test
England's offensive weaknesses were exposed and punished by a ruthless Australian side as the visitors secured a worryingly straightforward victory in the opening Test of the rugby league Ashes series.
The England coach's team had talked at length about their drive going into the opening series for 22 years, and they were definitely full of effort at Wembley. However, 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 more than 60,000.
Brilliant Performance from Reece Walsh
Guided by an exceptional display in attack and defence from Brisbane Broncos’ Reece Walsh, the Kangaroos were worthy and comfortable victors in the first match of the three-match series, meaning the hosts must triumph at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday to keep alive their aspirations of a series victory since the 1970s.
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 advantageous situations but they were failed to score for any points. That was in no small part thanks to Reece Walsh, who executed two wonderful turnovers.
Key Moments of the Match
The first occurred as Farnworth seemed certain to put Dom Young in for what would have been the first score, then the fullback denied Lewis as half-time approached. By then, the Australians had gone ahead as Walsh himself finished a excellent play.
Cleary added the extras before kicking a two-pointer on the stroke of half-time to open up a two-score lead. It was a significant moment, as was the score for Crichton soon after the restart which made it fourteen to nil in favour of the Kangaroos. England now had to cross the line thrice and that seemed to stifle their momentum.
Should there have been uncertainty about the victors, they were firmly put to bed with 15 minutes to go. 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 final minutes as Walsh finished another breathtaking attack, taking advantage of a tired and visibly shot English defense for his second.
Match Result and Outlook
By then, home fans had begun to filter out and many did not see Clark's late try, which at least avoided England finishing scoreless. However, there are plenty of questions for Wane to address going into what is now a must-win Test next Saturday.
- England: Welsby; Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone; Williams, Lewis; Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Knowles.
- 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.
- Bench: Reserves.
- Scores: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
- Kicks: Nathan Cleary (five).
