Vienna continued to build on their "Get 1% Rugby Better Every Single Day" with a big 59-10 win over Loudoun/Western Loudoun in a shortened 60-minute game Saturday.

The teams agreed to play four 15-minute quarters as Vienna's B side was also playing Washington DC Warriors. Loudoun and Western Loudoun combined their high school rugby clubs this year and that has helped their depth. They started playing with aggression and put Vienna under pressure.

Both teams had opportunities early before Vienna No. 8 Christos Kalpaxis was yellow-carded for a high tackle. Interestingly this seemed to have galvanized the shorthanded Vienna team. They won the ball back, marched down the field, and rookie Vienna lock Preston Balisky dove over the line for the opening try. Vienna captain Camden Erickson converted to put Vienna up 7-0.  

Loudoun kicked and Vienna went on the attack again, with senior wing Holden Smith scoring two minutes later in the corner for a 12-0 lead. Loudoun's strong defense earned them the ball back. Their defense and work rate in the midfield was impressive. Vienna absorbed Loudoun's attack and then turned the tables as Vienna flanker David Kendig ripped the ball out, fended away two defenders, and scampered 65 meters for an impressive try in the corner.

Vienna nearly scored again when Erickson charged down a Loudoun clearance kick, but the ball just barely rolled dead. But Erickson was in the middle of the action again, drawing defenders and putting center Luke Dunlop through a gap. Loudoun's cover defense raced in to save it. 

Finally, off a scrum, Erickson skip passed to Dunlop, who passed to brand new rugby player Brooklyn Kendricks on the wing. He beat defenders for a 30-meter run into the corner. Erickson converted from the touchline to bring the score to 24-0. From the restart Vienna worked their phases consistently before senior lock Brigham DeVore bulldozed over for another Vienna try. Erickson converted for a 31-0 lead. 

Vienna brought on some reserves to get some experience, and apparently they needed it since two got yellow-carded, opening up the space for Loudoun to converted pressure into a try.

But Vienna came back with a try from lock Brigham DeVore and then one from Kalpaxis off a scrum to push the lead to 45-5 Vienna. 

Loudoun defended doggedly, but Vienna kept attacking. Erickson put in a perfect, 20-meter cutout pass that led Kalpaxis perfectly. He charged on but was dragged down just short of the tryline. Eventually, DeVore crashed through for another Vienna try.

Loudoun came right back and turned over Vienna ball,, got a penalty, and cut up the middle. They were held up in-goal but soon thereafter Loudoun scrumhalf Christopher Scheuerman sneaked around the end of the ruck to score.

Vienna responded immediately by winning the ball back and newly capped sophomore lock Matheo Rojas scored in the corner. Erickson converted to bring the final tally to 59-10.

"Our boys committed 19 penalties and picked up three yellow cards for overly aggressive play," said Vienna Assistant Coach Paul Mattear about his squad's lack of discipline. 

Head Coach Kendall Erickson agreed: "We need to fix that. Great teams will make you pay for every mistake and lack of discipline. More work to do. On the bright side, we got 25 players Varsity quality game experience, including almost ten new guys. We are looking forward to March 12 when we finally get six key starters back from injury, wrestling, basketball. Our March schedule is loaded with National powerhouse teams West End, Raleigh, Clayton, Aspetuck, Gonzaga and Charlotte, so our Vienna boys are stoked to step up to the challenge and play against the best."

Vienna junior, captain, and flyhalf Camden Erickson was Man of the Match. He led from the front today just as much with his aggressive defense, for his playmaking abilities in attack, and his excellent goalkicking.