Walsh Takes Center Stage as Dominant Australia Defeat The Hosts Away in First Ashes Match
England's attacking frailties were laid bare and capitalized on by a clinical Australia as the visitors swept to a surprisingly comfortable victory in the first match of the rugby league Ashes series.
The England coach's side had talked at length about their motivation going into the opening series for 22 years, and they were certainly not short on effort at the famous stadium. However, in the crucial moments, it was the reigning title holders who showed more composure in front of a historic crowd for an Ashes Test in the United Kingdom of over sixty thousand spectators.
Outstanding Performance from Reece Walsh
Led by an outstanding display in offense and defense from Brisbane Broncos’ Reece Walsh, the Kangaroos were worthy and comfortable winners in the opening Test of the three-match series, meaning the hosts must triumph at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next weekend to sustain their hopes of a first Ashes win since the 1970s.
England will have to be much better with the possession if they are to accomplish that goal. On several instances in the first half, 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 pulled off two wonderful turnovers.
Key Moments of the Match
The first came 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 taken the lead as Reece Walsh himself finished a wonderful move.
Nathan Cleary added the extras before adding a penalty on the brink of half-time to open up a eight-point advantage. It was a pivotal point, as was the score for Angus Crichton shortly after the resumption which made it 14-0 in favor of the Kangaroos. The hosts now had to score three times and that seemed to halt their momentum.
Should there have been uncertainty about the victors, they were decisively settled with a quarter-hour 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 further humiliation in the final minutes as Reece Walsh finished another breathtaking move, exploiting a weary and visibly shot England defense for his second.
Match Result and Outlook
By then, local supporters had begun to filter out and many missed Daryl Clark’s late try, which at least prevented England finishing scoreless. However, there are many issues for Wane to address going into what is now a do-or-die Test next weekend.
- Home Side: Welsby; Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone; Williams, Lewis; Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Knowles.
- Interchange: Bench players.
- Try: Daryl Clark.
- Conversion: Mikey Lewis.
- Visitors: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
- Interchange: Dearden, Collins, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
- Tries: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
- Kicks: Nathan Cleary (five).