🔗 Share this article

The home side's attacking frailties were laid bare and capitalized on by a clinical Australian side as the tourists swept to a worryingly straightforward win in the opening Test of the Ashes.

The England coach's team had talked at length about their motivation going into the first Ashes for 22 years, and they were certainly not short on effort at the famous stadium. However, in the crucial moments, it was the world champions who displayed more composure in front of a record attendance for an Ashes Test in the United Kingdom of more than 60,000.

Outstanding Display from Walsh

Led by an exceptional showing in offense and defense from club star Reece Walsh, the Kangaroos were worthy and comfortable victors in the first match of the three-game contest, 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 achieve that. On several instances in the first half, the home team found themselves in promising positions but they were failed to score for any tries. That was in no small part thanks to Reece Walsh, who executed two wonderful interceptions.

Key Moments of the Match

The initial occurred as Herbie Farnworth seemed destined to put Young in for what would have been the first score, then Walsh denied Lewis as the break neared. By then, the Kangaroos had gone ahead as Reece Walsh himself completed a excellent move.

Cleary converted before adding a two-pointer on the brink of half-time to open up a two-score advantage. It was a pivotal moment, as was the score for Crichton soon after the resumption which made it fourteen to nil in favour of the visitors. The hosts now had to score three times and that seemed to stifle their momentum.

Should there have been uncertainty about the victors, they were decisively settled with 15 minutes to go. Munster's line break was backed up by Angus Crichton, who pushed past Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.

That made it twenty to zero and there was added disappointment in the closing stages as Reece Walsh completed another breathtaking attack, taking advantage of a tired and visibly shot English defensive line for his second.

Final Score and Outlook

By then, local supporters had begun to filter out and many missed Clark's late try, which at least avoided the home side finishing scoreless. Nonetheless, there are many issues for Wane to answer going into what is now a must-win Test next weekend.

• Home Side: Welsby; Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone; Williams, Lewis; Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Knowles.
• Interchange: Litten, Walmsley, Trout, McMeeken.
• Tries: Daryl Clark.
• Conversion: Mikey Lewis.

• Australia: Starting lineup.
• Bench: Reserves.
• Scores: Reece Walsh (two), Angus Crichton (two).
• Goals: Cleary 5.