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The home side's offensive weaknesses were laid bare and capitalized on by a clinical Australian side as the visitors secured a worryingly straightforward win in the opening Test of the Ashes.

The England coach's team had spoken effusively about their drive going into the first Ashes for over two decades, and they were certainly not short on endeavour at the famous stadium. However, in the key instances, it was the reigning title holders who displayed more composure in front of a historic crowd for an Ashes Test in the United Kingdom of over sixty thousand spectators.

Brilliant Display from Walsh

Led by an outstanding showing in offense and defense from club star Walsh, Australia were deserving and convincing victors in the opening Test of the three-game contest, meaning the hosts must triumph at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday to keep alive their hopes of a series victory 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 opening period, 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 executed two wonderful interceptions.

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 approached. By then, the Kangaroos had taken the lead as Reece Walsh himself finished a excellent move.

Cleary added the extras before kicking a two-pointer on the brink of the interval to establish a eight-point advantage. It was a significant moment, as was the try for Crichton soon after the resumption which made it 14-0 in favor of the Kangaroos. England now had to score three times and that seemed to stifle their drive.

Should there have been uncertainty about the victors, they were firmly put to bed with 15 minutes to go. Cameron Munster’s half-break was backed up by Angus Crichton, who broke through Welsby for Australia’s third try.

That made it 20-0 and there was further humiliation in the final minutes as Reece Walsh completed another scintillating attack, taking advantage of a weary and visibly shot England defensive line for his second.

Match Result and Looking Ahead

By then, local supporters had begun to filter out and many did not see Clark's consolation, which at least avoided England being held to nil. Nonetheless, there are plenty of questions for the coach to address going into what is now a must-win Test next weekend.

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

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