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England's offensive weaknesses were exposed and punished by a clinical Australian side as the visitors secured a surprisingly comfortable victory in the opening Test 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 endeavour at the famous stadium. Yet, in the key instances, it was the reigning title holders who showed more composure in front of a record attendance for an Ashes Test in the UK of more than 60,000.

Brilliant Performance from Reece Walsh

Led by an exceptional display in attack and defence from club star Reece Walsh, the Kangaroos were worthy and comfortable winners in the first match of the three-match series, meaning the hosts must win at Goodison Park next weekend 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 achieve that. On several instances in the first half, the hosts found themselves in advantageous situations but they were failed to score for any points. That was in no small part thanks to Walsh, who executed two wonderful interceptions.

Key Moments of the Game

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

Cleary converted before adding a two-pointer on the stroke of the interval to establish a two-score advantage. It was a pivotal moment, as was the score for Crichton soon after the restart which made it fourteen to nil in favour 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 firmly put to bed with 15 minutes to go. Munster's line break was backed up by Crichton, who broke through Jack Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.

That made it twenty to zero and there was further humiliation in the final minutes as Walsh finished another breathtaking attack, exploiting a weary and clearly exhausted English defensive line for his second.

Final Score and Outlook

By then, home fans had begun to leave early and many did not see Daryl Clark’s late try, which at least avoided the home side finishing scoreless. However, there are plenty of questions for the coach to address 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.
• Try: Clark.
• Goal: Lewis.

• Australia: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
• Interchange: Reserves.
• Scores: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
• Goals: Cleary 5.