Walsh Takes Center Stage as Dominant Australia Sweep England Aside in First Ashes Match
The home side's offensive weaknesses were laid bare and capitalized on by a clinical Australian side as the visitors secured a worryingly straightforward win in the first match of the rugby league Ashes series.
Shaun Wane’s team had talked at length about their motivation going into the opening series for over two decades, and they were definitely full of effort at Wembley. Yet, in the crucial moments, it was the world champions who showed more calmness in front of a record attendance for an Ashes Test in the UK of over sixty thousand spectators.
Brilliant Performance from Walsh
Led by an exceptional display in offense and defense from club star Reece Walsh, the Kangaroos were deserving and convincing victors in the first match of the three-match series, meaning England must win at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday to sustain their hopes of a series victory since the 1970s.
England will have to be significantly improved with the ball if they are to accomplish that goal. On multiple occasions in the first half, the home team found themselves in promising positions but they were unable to cross for any points. That was in large measure thanks to Walsh, who pulled off two wonderful turnovers.
Key Moments of the Match
The initial came as Herbie Farnworth seemed destined to put Dom Young in for what would have been the first score, then Walsh stopped Mikey Lewis as the break approached. By then, the Australians had taken the lead as Walsh himself completed a excellent move.
Nathan Cleary converted before kicking a two-pointer on the stroke of the interval to open up a eight-point advantage. It was a significant point, as was the score for Crichton soon after the restart which made it 14-0 in favor of the Kangaroos. The hosts now had to cross the line thrice and that seemed to halt their drive.
Should there have been uncertainty about the victors, they were firmly put to bed with a quarter-hour to go. Cameron Munster’s half-break was supported by Crichton, who broke through Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.
That made it twenty to zero and there was added disappointment in the closing stages as Walsh completed another scintillating move, exploiting a tired and clearly exhausted England defensive line for his second try.
Final Score and Outlook
By then, home fans had begun to leave early and many did not see 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 Saturday.
- Home Side: 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: Starting lineup.
- Interchange: Reserves.
- Tries: Reece Walsh (two), Angus Crichton (two).
- Goals: Cleary 5.
