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The home side's attacking frailties were exposed and punished by a clinical Australian side as the visitors secured a worryingly straightforward win 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 22 years, and they were definitely full of effort at the famous stadium. However, in the key instances, it was the reigning title holders who showed more calmness in front of a record attendance for an series match in the United Kingdom of more than 60,000.

Brilliant Display from Walsh

Led by an outstanding display in offense and defense from Brisbane Broncos’ Walsh, the Kangaroos were worthy and comfortable winners in the opening Test of the three-match series, meaning England must win at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday 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 achieve that. On several instances in the opening period, the home team found themselves in promising positions but they were unable to cross for any points. That was in large measure thanks to Reece Walsh, who executed two wonderful turnovers.

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 stopped Mikey Lewis as the break neared. By then, the Australians had gone ahead as Reece Walsh himself finished a excellent play.

Nathan Cleary added the extras before kicking a penalty on the brink of half-time to open up a eight-point lead. It was a pivotal point, as was the try for Crichton soon after the restart which made it fourteen to nil in favour of the visitors. The hosts now had to score three times and that seemed to halt their drive.

If there were any doubt about the winners, they were decisively settled with a quarter-hour to go. Munster's line break was supported by Crichton, who pushed past Jack Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.

That made it twenty to zero and there was further humiliation in the closing stages 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, local supporters had begun to leave early and many did not see Clark's late try, which at least avoided the home side finishing scoreless. However, there are plenty of questions for Wane to answer going into what is now a do-or-die Test next Saturday.

• Home Side: Welsby; Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone; Williams, Lewis; Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Knowles.
• Interchange: Bench players.
• Try: Clark.
• Conversion: Lewis.

• Australia: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
• Interchange: Reserves.
• Scores: Reece Walsh (two), Angus Crichton (two).
• Kicks: Cleary 5.