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England's attacking frailties were exposed and punished by a clinical Australian side as the visitors swept to a worryingly straightforward victory in the first match of the rugby league Ashes series.

Shaun Wane’s team had talked at length about their drive going into the opening series for over two decades, and they were definitely full of endeavour at the famous stadium. However, in the key instances, it was the world champions who showed more composure in front of a historic crowd for an Ashes Test in the United Kingdom of more than 60,000.

Brilliant Performance from Walsh

Led by an outstanding showing in attack and defence from club star Reece Walsh, the Kangaroos were worthy and comfortable victors in the opening Test of the three-game contest, meaning England must win at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday to keep alive their hopes of a first Ashes win 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 opening period, the hosts found themselves in promising positions but they were failed to score for any points. That was in no small part thanks to Reece Walsh, who executed two wonderful interceptions.

Key Moments of the Game

The first came as Farnworth seemed certain to put Dom Young in for what would have been the first score, then Walsh denied Mikey Lewis as the break approached. By then, the Australians had gone ahead as Reece Walsh himself completed a excellent play.

Nathan Cleary converted before kicking a penalty on the stroke of the interval to establish a eight-point advantage. It was a significant point, as was the score for Crichton soon after the resumption which made it fourteen to nil in favour of the Kangaroos. England 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. Cameron Munster’s line break was supported by Angus Crichton, who pushed past Welsby for Australia’s third try.

That made it 20-0 and there was further humiliation in the final minutes as Walsh completed another breathtaking move, exploiting a weary and clearly exhausted England defense for his second.

Match Result and Looking Ahead

By then, local supporters had begun to leave early and many missed Daryl Clark’s late try, which at least prevented England finishing scoreless. Nonetheless, there are many issues for Wane to address going into what is now a must-win Test next Saturday.

• England: Full team lineup.
• Interchange: Litten, Walmsley, Trout, McMeeken.
• Tries: Daryl Clark.
• Goal: Lewis.

• Australia: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
• Interchange: Reserves.
• Tries: Reece Walsh (two), Angus Crichton (two).
• Kicks: Nathan Cleary (five).