Australia edge pulsating second Test with England to clinch Ashes
The long wait continues. Another brave British failure. Australia’s dominance was preserved.
Saturday’s 14-4 victory in the second Test allowed the Kangaroos to claim their 14th successive series win, an Ashes run that began 52 years ago.
It leaves a sold-out third Test at Headingley in Leeds next week in vain as Australia attempt to complete the series 3-0 like they did in 2003.
But this performance suited Shaun Wane’s team better after they were brutally put to the sword by Kevin Walters’ side at Wembley a week ago.
The England head coach promised his team would make a better case for themselves after failing in the first Test and they did not disappoint.
They performed better in the first period but their territorial dominance was not reflected on the scoreboard, instead Nathan Cleary and Harry Smith showed four points each after the penalty shoot-out.
The problem for England was that they could not penetrate the watertight Australian defence.
There were hopeful moments, with Dom Young getting nailed by a goal from Herbie Farnworth’s corner kick and Morgan Knowles knocking on the door before putting the ball under the sticks.
But four minutes into the second half, the tourists took the game away from him.
In the next Australian set, England’s error down the left was brutally punished as Cameron Munster evaded a tackle from George Williams to score.
And with the home side visibly wobbling, another mistake put Australia through for their second try of the match.
When Cleary’s thunderous shot deflected off Tom Johnstone’s hands, Canberra Raiders second row Hudson Young managed to collect the loose ball to cross.
A huge row between several players sparked a frantic opening to proceedings, with England’s Young and Australia’s Tino Fa’asuamaleaui both sin-binned for their involvement just three minutes into the game.
This set the tone for a more assertive and aggressive England display that was lacking at Wembley.
Smith’s inclusion for his notable game management qualities tied up some of the disorganization in England’s sets, and debutant AJ Brimson justified his inclusion as a full-back.
But for all England’s good work, they were unable to capitalize on the points they gained from replayed sets and could not find a way back into the contest, even when Australian full-back Reece Walsh was found to be frustratingly sin-binned in the second half for Wane and his bench.
England: AJ Brimson, Dom Young, Herbie Farnworth, Jake Wardle, Tom Johnstone, George Williams (captain), Harry Smith, Mike McMeeken, Jez Litten, Matty Lees, Kai Pearce-Paul, Kallum Watkins, Morgan Knowles.
Intersections: Mikey Lewis, Alex Walmsley, Morgan Smithies, Mikolaj Oledzki.
Australia: Walsh, Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr, Munster, Cleary, Collins, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Carrigan.
Intersections: Dearden, Smith, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
