Vienna looked impressive with a 36-3 defeat of West End Saturday in Rugby Virginia action.

The two teams have a good rivalry going. Both have built their programs starting with youth. And last year the two teams met in the Rugby Virginia semifinals, with Vienna winning 5-0.

On Saturday, the game went a bit more Vienna's way in the opening week of league play. The game was physical and entertaining with both teams trading blows and possession. Vienna scored in the fourth minute when Vienna lock Juan Cat dotted down in the corner for a 5-0 lead. Both Vienna and West End had their chances in the ensuing minutes, but tough defense, some indiscipline, and errors ended promising scoring opportunities. Senior wing Holden Smith broke the drought with a try for a 10-0 Vienna lead.  West End fought back and attacked deep in Vienna territory, but Vienna's strong defensive line kept West End advances out of the try zone. Vienna got pinged for diving over inside their own 22, and West end took the three points to bring the tally to 10-3. 

Vienna restarted and immediately put West End under pressure and turned the ball over. Vienna advanced inside the West End 22 and flanker David Kendig went over. Camden Erickson converted from near the touchline to push the lead to 17-3. 

Vienna took the restart and worked their phases to march down the field. Juan Cat burst through for 30 meters before offloading to wing Holden Smith, who offloaded to Kendig. West End slowed the hard-charging Vienna flanker, but he was not held in the tackle and popped up and scored another try. Conversion good and it was 24-3 at halftime.

West End came out strong and physical in the second half and the teams went back and forth trying to find some space. Eventually Vienna got close to the West End 22 before Erickson stepped through two West End defenders and raced in under the posts. The captain converted his own try for a 31-3 Vienna lead. 

A short time later Vienna took the ball out of a midfield scrum, and Erickson barreled over one defender and evaded another and then offloaded to Kendig in support. Kendig ran over and through others before being shoved into tough, but Vienna was in try-scoring position now and No. 8 Christos Kalpaxis to go over. The referee, however, was unsighted and couldn't award the try. Moments later, though, Kalpaxis had another shot and barged over.

Vienna pressured more in the game's waning minutes, but West End's defense never quit and they kept Vienna out to keep it at 36-3. 

Kendig was named player of the game for his scoring but also his work rate.