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The home side's offensive weaknesses were laid bare and capitalized on by a ruthless Australia as the visitors secured a surprisingly comfortable win in the first match of the rugby league Ashes series.

Shaun Wane’s side had talked at length about their motivation 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 displayed more composure in front of a record attendance for an series match in the United Kingdom of over sixty thousand spectators.

Brilliant Performance from Reece Walsh

Guided by an outstanding display in offense and defense from Brisbane Broncos’ Reece Walsh, Australia were deserving and convincing winners in the first match of the three-match series, meaning the hosts must triumph at Goodison Park next weekend to sustain their aspirations of a first Ashes win since 1970.

They will have to be much better with the ball if they are to achieve that. On multiple occasions in the opening period, the home team found themselves in advantageous situations but they were failed to score for any points. That was in large measure thanks to Reece Walsh, who pulled off two wonderful turnovers.

Key Moments of the Match

The first came as Farnworth seemed certain to put Young in for what would have been the first score, then the fullback stopped Lewis as the break neared. By then, the Kangaroos had taken the lead as Reece Walsh himself completed a wonderful move.

Cleary added the extras before kicking a penalty on the brink of half-time to establish a two-score advantage. It was a pivotal point, as was the try for Angus Crichton soon after the restart which made it fourteen to nil in favor of the visitors. England now had to cross the line thrice and that seemed to stifle their drive.

Should there have been uncertainty about the victors, they were firmly put to bed with a quarter-hour to go. Munster's half-break was backed up 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 move, exploiting a weary and clearly exhausted English defense for his second try.

Final Score and Looking Ahead

By then, local supporters had begun to filter out and many missed Daryl Clark’s consolation, which at least avoided England finishing scoreless. Nonetheless, there are plenty of questions for the coach to answer going into what is now a do-or-die Test next weekend.

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

• Australia: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
• Bench: Dearden, Collins, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
• Tries: Reece Walsh (two), Angus Crichton (two).
• Goals: Cleary 5.