Walsh Takes Center Stage as Ruthless The Kangaroos Defeat The Hosts Away in First Ashes Match
The home side's attacking frailties were exposed and punished by a clinical Australia as the tourists secured a surprisingly comfortable win in the opening Test of the rugby league Ashes series.
The England coach's team had talked at length about their motivation going into the opening series for over two decades, and they were certainly not short on effort at the famous stadium. Yet, in the crucial moments, it was the reigning title holders who displayed more calmness in front of a record attendance for an series match in the UK of more than 60,000.
Brilliant Performance from Reece Walsh
Guided by an outstanding showing in offense and defense from club star Walsh, the Kangaroos were worthy and comfortable victors in the first match of the three-game contest, meaning England must triumph at Goodison Park next weekend to sustain their hopes of a first Ashes win since the 1970s.
They will have to be much better with the ball if they are to accomplish that goal. On multiple occasions in the first half, the hosts found themselves in promising positions but they were failed to score for any tries. That was in no small part thanks to Walsh, who pulled off two superb interceptions.
Key Moments of the Match
The first occurred as Farnworth seemed certain to put Young in for what would have been the first score, then Walsh denied Mikey Lewis as the break neared. By then, the Kangaroos had taken the lead as Walsh himself completed a excellent play.
Nathan Cleary converted before kicking a penalty on the stroke of the interval to open up a eight-point advantage. It was a pivotal moment, as was the try for Crichton soon after the restart which made it 14-0 in favor of the visitors. England now had to score three times and that seemed to stifle their drive.
Should there have been uncertainty about the victors, they were decisively settled with a quarter-hour to go. Cameron Munster’s half-break was backed up by Crichton, who broke through Jack Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.
That made it twenty to zero and there was added disappointment in the final minutes as Walsh completed another scintillating move, exploiting a weary and visibly shot England defensive line for his second try.
Match Result and Looking Ahead
By then, home fans had begun to leave early and many missed Daryl Clark’s consolation, which at least avoided England being held to nil. However, there are plenty of questions for the coach 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.
- Substitutes: Bench players.
- Tries: Clark.
- Conversion: Mikey Lewis.
- Visitors: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
- Bench: Dearden, Collins, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
- Scores: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
- Kicks: Cleary 5.
