Australia brink of a pulsating second Test with England to clinch the Ashes

The long wait continues. Another brave English failure. Australia’s dominance continued.

A 14-4 win in the second Test on Saturday allowed the Kangaroos to claim a 14th successive win, an Ashes series that began 52 years ago.

It makes next week’s sold-out third Test at Headingley in Leeds a dead rubber, with Australia, as in 2003, trying to complete a 3-0 series whitewash.

However, after being brutally beaten by Kevin Walters’ side at Wembley a week earlier, this was a performance more befitting of Shaun Wayne’s side.

The England coach had vowed his side would give a better account of themselves after failing to ‘turn up’ in the first Test, and they did not disappoint.

They enjoyed the better of the first period but their regional dominance did not translate on the scoreboard, which instead offered four points each after Nathan Cleary and Harry Smith exchanged penalties.

The problem for England was that this was as good as they could not penetrate the tight Australian defence.

There were promising moments, with Dom Jong almost scoring from a Herbie Farnworth penalty corner, and Morgan Knowles beating the ball before slotting it under the bars.

However, within four minutes of the second half, the tourists took the game away from them.

England’s error down the left was brutally punished in the next Australian set as Cameron Munster got away from a George Williams tackle to score.

With the home team clearly reeling, he committed another foul with Australia’s second attempt of the match.

When Cleary’s booming kick bounced off Tom Johnston’s hands, Canberra Raiders second row Hudson Young was able to collect the loose ball for the jumper.

England: AJ Brimson, Dom Young, Herbie Farnworth, Jake Wardle, Tom Johnston, George Williams (captain), Harry Smith, Mike McMeekin, Jez Litten, Matty Lees, Kay Pearce-Ball, Callum Watkins, Morgan Knowles.

Exchanges: Micky Lewis, Alex Walmsley, Morgan Smithies, Mikolaj Oledzki.

Australia: Walsh, Nawaqanitawasi, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr, Munster, Cleary, Collins, Grant, Fasuamalawe, Crichton, Young, Carrigan.

Exchanges: Dearden, Smith, Cotter, Kolwamatangi.