Walsh Takes Center Stage as Dominant Australia Defeat England Away in Opening Ashes Match
England's attacking frailties were exposed and punished by a ruthless Australian side as the tourists secured a worryingly straightforward win in the opening Test of the Ashes.
Shaun Wane’s team had spoken effusively about their motivation going into the opening series for 22 years, and they were definitely full of endeavour at the famous stadium. Yet, in the crucial moments, it was the world champions who displayed more calmness in front of a historic crowd for an series match in the UK of more than 60,000.
Outstanding Performance from Walsh
Guided by an outstanding display in offense and defense from Brisbane Broncos’ Reece Walsh, Australia were deserving and convincing victors in the first match of the three-match series, meaning England must triumph at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next weekend to keep alive their aspirations of a first Ashes win since the 1970s.
England will have to be significantly improved with the possession if they are to accomplish that goal. On several instances in the first half, the hosts found themselves in promising positions but they were unable to cross for any tries. That was in no small part thanks to Walsh, who pulled off two superb interceptions.
Crucial Plays of the Match
The first occurred as Farnworth seemed destined to put Dom Young in for what would have been the first score, then Walsh stopped Mikey Lewis as the break neared. By then, the Kangaroos had gone ahead as Reece Walsh himself completed a excellent move.
Nathan Cleary converted before kicking a penalty on the stroke of the interval to establish a two-score lead. It was a significant point, as was the score for Angus Crichton soon after the restart which made it fourteen to nil in favour of the Kangaroos. The hosts now had to cross the line thrice and that seemed to stifle their momentum.
Should there have been uncertainty about the victors, they were decisively settled with a quarter-hour to go. Munster's half-break was backed up by Angus Crichton, who pushed past Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.
That made it 20-0 and there was added disappointment in the closing stages as Walsh finished another breathtaking move, taking advantage of a tired and clearly exhausted English defensive line for his second.
Final Score and Looking Ahead
By then, home fans had begun to leave early and many did not see Clark's consolation, which at least avoided the home side finishing scoreless. Nonetheless, there are many issues for the coach to answer going into what is now a do-or-die match next Saturday.
- Home Side: Welsby; Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone; Williams, Lewis; Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Knowles.
- Interchange: Litten, Walmsley, Trout, McMeeken.
- Try: Clark.
- Goal: Mikey Lewis.
- Visitors: Starting lineup.
- Bench: Reserves.
- Tries: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
- Kicks: Nathan Cleary (five).
