🔗 Share this article Reece Walsh Shines as Dominant The Kangaroos Defeat England Away in Opening Ashes Match England's offensive weaknesses were laid bare and capitalized on 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 spoken effusively about their motivation going into the opening series for over two decades, and they were certainly not short on endeavour at Wembley. Yet, in the key instances, it was the reigning title holders who displayed more calmness in front of a historic crowd for an series match in the United Kingdom of more than 60,000. Brilliant Display from Reece Walsh Led by an exceptional display in attack and defence from club star Walsh, Australia were deserving and convincing winners in the first match of the three-match series, meaning the hosts must win at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday to sustain their aspirations of a first Ashes win since the 1970s. They will have to be significantly improved with the ball if they are to accomplish that goal. On several instances 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 Reece Walsh, who pulled off two wonderful turnovers. Key Moments of the Game The initial occurred as Farnworth seemed certain to put Dom Young in for what would have been the first score, then Walsh denied Lewis as half-time neared. By then, the Kangaroos had taken the lead as Walsh himself finished a wonderful play. Cleary added the extras before adding a penalty on the brink of the interval to open up a eight-point lead. It was a pivotal point, as was the score for Angus Crichton soon after the resumption which made it fourteen to nil in favor of the visitors. England now had to score three times and that seemed to stifle their momentum. Should there have been uncertainty about the winners, they were decisively settled with a quarter-hour to go. Cameron Munster’s line break was backed up by Crichton, who pushed past Jack Welsby for Australia’s third try. That made it twenty to zero and there was added disappointment in the closing stages as Reece Walsh completed another scintillating attack, exploiting a weary and visibly shot English defensive line for his second try. Final Score and Looking Ahead By then, home fans had begun to filter out and many missed Clark's consolation, which at least avoided England being held to nil. However, there are many issues for Wane to answer going into what is now a must-win Test next weekend. England: Welsby; Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone; Williams, Lewis; Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Knowles. Interchange: Litten, Walmsley, Trout, McMeeken. Tries: Clark. Conversion: Lewis. Visitors: Starting lineup. Bench: Dearden, Collins, Cotter, Koloamatangi. Tries: Walsh 2, Crichton 2. Goals: Nathan Cleary (five).