Australia has clinched the rugby league Ashes with a 14-4 victory in a Test match that included three sin bins during a fiery 80 minutes in Liverpool.
The signs of a fiery Test were there to see early when Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Dominic Young were both yellow carded in the second minute.
The incident was sparked by a push and shove between Harry Grant and his opposite number Jez Litten before Fa’asuamaleaui ran in and pulled away Litten.
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Kangaroos and England players clash. NRL Photos
Young arrived much later than his England teammates but was carded for running in.
“I think the referee has overreacted here, we’re only a minute into the game,” Phil Gould said on Nine.
“Golly.”
More spotfires broke out during the first half but the cards didn’t reappear.
The first half was a tight affair with the score 4-4 at the break thanks to penalty goals from Nathan Cleary and Harry Smith.
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A physical match then started to break open when Cameron Munster dummied and palmed his way through the England defence to score the first try in the 48th minute.
Hudson Young crossed for the Kangaroos’ second in the 53rd minute after Kotoni Staggs tapped the ball back from a cross-kick to assist the Raiders forward in the corner.
The next flashpoint in the match was a sin bin for Reece Walsh who flew in the air and hit Young with his shoulder after the winger had dropped the ball.
England couldn’t find a try despite the 12-man advantage, as Australia finished 14-4 winners before the final match of the series in Leeds.
Munster was awarded player of the match.