Walsh Takes Center Stage as Dominant The Kangaroos Defeat The Hosts Away in First Ashes Test
The home side's offensive weaknesses were laid bare and capitalized on by a clinical Australia as the visitors secured a surprisingly comfortable win in the first match of the rugby league Ashes series.
Shaun Wane’s side had talked at length about their motivation going into the opening series for over two decades, and they were certainly not short on endeavour at Wembley. Yet, in the key instances, it was the reigning title holders who showed more composure in front of a record attendance for an series match in the UK of over sixty thousand spectators.
Outstanding Display from Reece Walsh
Led by an exceptional display in attack and defence from Brisbane Broncos’ Reece Walsh, Australia were deserving and convincing winners in the first match of the three-match series, meaning England must triumph at Goodison Park next Saturday to keep alive their aspirations of a series victory since the 1970s.
England will have to be much better with the possession if they are to achieve that. On several instances in the opening period, the hosts found themselves in advantageous situations but they were unable to cross for any tries. That was in no small part thanks to Walsh, who executed two superb interceptions.
Key Moments of the Game
The first came as Farnworth seemed destined to put Dom Young in for what would have been the first score, then Walsh denied Mikey Lewis as the break neared. By then, the Kangaroos had gone ahead as Reece Walsh himself finished a excellent move.
Nathan Cleary added the extras before adding a penalty on the brink of half-time to open up a two-score lead. It was a significant moment, as was the score for Crichton shortly after the resumption which made it 14-0 in favor of the Kangaroos. England now had to score three times and that seemed to halt their momentum.
If there were any doubt about the winners, they were decisively settled with a quarter-hour to go. Cameron Munster’s half-break was backed up by Angus 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 Reece Walsh finished another breathtaking attack, exploiting a weary and clearly exhausted English defensive line for his second try.
Final Score and Looking Ahead
By then, home fans had begun to filter out and many missed Daryl Clark’s late try, which at least prevented England being held to nil. However, there are plenty of questions for Wane to address going into what is now a must-win match next Saturday.
- England: Full team lineup.
- Substitutes: Litten, Walmsley, Trout, McMeeken.
- Try: Daryl Clark.
- Conversion: Mikey Lewis.
- Visitors: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
- Bench: Reserves.
- Scores: Reece Walsh (two), Angus Crichton (two).
- Goals: Cleary 5.
