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England's offensive weaknesses were exposed and punished by a clinical Australia as the visitors secured a surprisingly comfortable 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 first Ashes for 22 years, and they were certainly not short on effort at Wembley. Yet, in the key instances, it was the world champions who showed more calmness in front of a historic crowd for an series match in the United Kingdom of over sixty thousand spectators.

Brilliant Display from Walsh

Led by an exceptional showing in offense and defense from club star Reece Walsh, the Kangaroos were deserving and convincing victors in the opening Test of the three-game contest, meaning the hosts must triumph at Goodison Park next Saturday to keep alive their hopes of a first Ashes win since 1970.

England will have to be much better with the ball if they are to achieve that. On multiple occasions in the opening period, the hosts found themselves in advantageous situations but they were failed to score for any points. That was in no small part thanks to Reece Walsh, who pulled off two superb turnovers.

Crucial Plays of the Game

The initial came as Farnworth seemed certain to put Dom Young in for what would have been the first score, then the fullback denied Mikey Lewis as the break neared. By then, the Australians had taken the lead as Walsh himself finished a excellent play.

Cleary added the extras before adding a two-pointer on the stroke of the interval to establish a two-score lead. It was a significant point, as was the try for Crichton shortly after the restart which made it fourteen to nil in favour of the visitors. England now had to cross the line thrice and that seemed to halt their drive.

Should there have been uncertainty about the victors, they were firmly put to bed with 15 minutes to go. Cameron Munster’s line break was supported by Crichton, who pushed past Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.

That made it 20-0 and there was further humiliation in the final minutes as Walsh finished another scintillating attack, exploiting a tired and visibly shot English defense for his second.

Match Result and Outlook

By then, local supporters had begun to leave early and many missed Daryl Clark’s late try, which at least avoided England being held to nil. However, there are many issues for the coach to address 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: Litten, Walmsley, Trout, McMeeken.
• Try: Daryl Clark.
• Conversion: Mikey Lewis.

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