The long wait continues. Another gallant English failure. Australia’s dominance maintained.
A 14-4 victory in Saturday’s second Test allowed the Kangaroos to claim a 14th consecutive series win, an Ashes run that began 52 years ago.
It renders next week’s sold-out third Test at Headingley in Leeds a dead rubber, as Australia, like in 2003, attempt to complete a 3-0 series whitewash.
However, after being brutally put to the sword by Kevin Walters’ team at Wembley a week ago, this performance was more befitting of a Shaun Wane side.
The England head coach had pledged that his team would offer a better account of themselves after failing to “show up” for the first Test, and they did not disappoint.
They enjoyed the better of the first period but their territorial dominance did not translate across on the scoreboard, which instead displayed four points each after Nathan Cleary and Harry Smith traded penalties.
The problem for England was that was as good as it got as they were unable to breach a watertight Australian defence.
There were moments of promise, with Dom Young a fingernail from scoring in the corner from a Herbie Farnworth grubber kick and Morgan Knowles knocking on before grounding the ball under the sticks.
However, in the space of four second-half minutes the tourists took the game away them.
An England error on the left was brutally punished on the next Australia set as Cameron Munster twisted away from a George Williams tackle to score.
And, with the hosts visibly rocking, another mistake presented Australia with their second try of the match.
When Cleary’s booming kick ricocheted out of the hands of Tom Johnstone, Canberra Raiders second row Hudson Young was able to collect the loose ball to cross.
England: AJ Brimson, Dom Young, Herbie Farnworth, Jake Wardle, Tom Johnstone, George Williams (capt), Harry Smith, Mike McMeeken, Jez Litten, Matty Lees, Kai Pearce-Paul, Kallum Watkins, Morgan Knowles.
Interchanges: Mikey Lewis, Alex Walmsley, Morgan Smithies, Mikolaj Oledzki.
Australia: Walsh, Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr, Munster, Cleary, Collins, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Carrigan.
Interchanges: Dearden, Smith, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
