ENGLAND 8 AUSTRALIA 30
CALLUM WALKER, AMT Headingley, Leeds, Saturday

ONCE again, England will be wondering how they finished an Ashes Test on single figures.

For the majority of this titanic clash, Shaun Wane’s men were on the front foot in both attack and defence, but yet again a combination of stellar Australian defence and wayward England skill ensured the Knagaroos took home a 3-0 series whitewash.

For England, Joe Burgess came in for the injured Dom Young whilst Harry Newman ran out on his own Headingley patch after replacing Jake Wardle in the only two changes.

Isaah Yeo returned from concussion to captain the Kangaroos, with Lindsay Collins dropping to the bench and Lindsay Smith being omitted altogether.

Australia’s intent from the off was obvious, Harry Grant splitting the markers down the middle but Burgess able to rescue the situation after chasing down Grant’s kick.

But Burgess turned from hero to villain moments later, knocking on in the tackle as Australia punished the hosts – a superb floating pass from Cameron Munster gave Josh Addo-Carr the easiest of run-ins after six minutes. Nathan Cleary converted for a 6-0 lead.

It was Hudson Young’s turn to lose possession on the next set but that came to nought as Wane introduced Mikey Lewis within 12 minutes at fullback for injured AJ Brimson.

A Mark Nawaqanitawase error from a George Williams grubber around the midway point in the first half almost saw Kallum Watkins dot down, but again the Kangaroos escaped with a drop-out.

And, let’s face it, the visitors were in no mood to rest on their laurels. After Collins had charged 50 metres downfield and Morgan Knowles had knocked on, Munster’s delightful little prod was inexplicably missed by Lewis as Hudson Young sneaked in. Cleary made it 12-0 with the half-hour in sight.

But a moment of magic brought England back to within six points moments later. Jez Litten broke brilliantly down the middle before the hooker rounded Reece Walsh and kicked ahead for Williams. The England skipper pounced with Harry Smith converting.

Before that, the hosts had looked dismal with the ball, but Lewis was struggling at the back and his miss on Kotoni Staggs’ chip almost gave Collins a four-pointer.

England did well to force him over the dead-ball line before he could ground, but it was obvious where Australia were now targeting on the last play.

As it was, the hosts reduced the deficit to just four at the break, Smith slotting over a penalty for a rip on Herbie Farnworth after Australia failed in their Captain’s Challenge attempt.

It did, however, take the Kangaroos just four minutes to break the English line in the second half, but Addo-Carr was denied a double after being offside from a Munster kick.

Momentum is a funny thing in rugby league and so when Collins and Nawaqanitawase knocked on in their own 30-metre area, England really should have struck more points.

Those misses were compounded after Australia were forced to drop-out twice, but Mike McMeeken lost possession to stem the English tide.

Passion and pride was in abundance so when Walsh was penalised for pushing Burgess as Gehamat Shibasaki ran the ball in, the Headingley crowd responded.

Unfortunately for the hosts, Burgess just missed Williams’ kick as the Kangaroos survived again.

And, in a cruel twist of fate, Grant burrowed over from dummy-half to break England’s hearts once more with 62 minutes on the clock. Cleary made it 18-8 and somehow the Kangaroos were ten points ahead after facing a quite relentless barrage.

Just to rub salt into England’s wounds, Walsh scored twice in the final dozen minutes.

He recovered a ricocheting ball off Newman for his first, and then danced his way past Kai Pearce-Paul off a scrum for a scintillating second moments from the end as Cleary’s perfect kicking from the tee put the icing on the cake.

GAMESTAR: Harry Grant was Australia’s linchpin once more at hooker.

GAMEBREAKER: Grant’s try just after the hour against the run of play ensured it would be Australia’s day.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Jez Litten tearing a hole down Australia’s middle before rounding Reece Walsh and kicking for George Williams to score.

MATCHFACTS
ENGLAND
1 AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans)
2 Joe Burgess (Hull KR)
3 Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos)
4 Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)
5 Tom Johnstone (Wakefield Trinity)
6 George Williams (Warrington Wolves)
7 Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors)
8 Mike McMeeken (Wakefield Trinity)
9 Jez Litten (Hull KR)
10 Matty Lees (St Helens)
11 Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos)
12 Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights)
13 Morgan Knowles (St Helens)
Subs (all used)
14 Mikey Lewis (Hull KR)
15 Alex Walmsley (St Helens)
16 Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders)
17 Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos)
18th man (not used)
18 Owen Trout (Leigh Leopards)
Also in 19-man squad
19 Daryl Clark (St Helens)

Tries: Williams (33)
Goals: Smith 2/2

AUSTRALIA
1 Reece Walsh (Brisbane Broncos)
2 Mark Nawaqanitawase (Sydney Roosters)
3 Kotoni Staggs (Brisbane Broncos)
4 Gehamat Shibasaki (Brisbane Broncos)
5 Josh Addo-Carr (Parramatta Eels)
6 Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm)
7 Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
8 Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos)
9 Harry Grant (Melbourne Storm)
10 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Gold Coast Titans)
11 Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters)
12 Hudson Young (Canberra Raiders)
13 Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers)
Subs (all used)
14 Tom Dearden (North Queensland Cowboys)
15 Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters)
16 Reuben Cotter (North Queensland Cowboys)
17 Keaon Koloamatangi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
18th man (not used)
18 Bradman Best (Newcastle Knights)
Also in 20-man squad
19 Lindsay Smith (Penrith Panthers)
20 Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels)

Tries: Addo-Carr (6), Young (26), Grant (62), Walsh (68, 79)
Goals: Cleary 5/5

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 6-12, 8-12; 8-18, 8-24, 8-30

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
England: Alex Walmsley; Australia: Harry Grant

Penalty count: 6-4
Half-time: 8-12
Referee: Grant Atkins
Attendance: 19,500