Vienna HS defeated the Bethesda Roosters Saturday in a cross-border warmup for both teams.

The team is in an interesting situation. Having won the Tier II in the National Youth 7s Rugby Championships this past summer, and attending their first Boys HS National Championships, where they started a large percentage of underclassmen, they are young but have experience. Vienna's late invitation to those HS Championships, combined with some injuries, meant several older players couldn't make the trip. No one offered any excuses and instead Vienna, which finished a very competitive 6th in Tier II, took those lessons home.

Still Time To Apply for Boys HS Nationals

Having led San Diego (who went on to win Tier II) into the second half, and playing a close 5th-6th game despite running on some younger players, the team felt they'd made a statement.

"The Vienna players were not just happy to be there," said Head Coach Kendall Erickson. "They were very frustrated with their performance and results—this same Vienna group of lads won the Middle School Nationals in 2018—so they went to work immediately on their plan to earn their way back for another shot at Nationals."

The players starting working out on their own. They won the Virginia State 7s Championship in convincing fashion. Nine Vienna players were selected for the Old Glory DC U19 Academy team and have benefited from the additional professional rugby instruction and games. Vienna players have been practicing in cold, snow, ice and rain, with the motto of "1% Rugby Better Every Single Day." 

So finally they got to play, taking on top Maryland team Bethesda. The Roosters kicked high to begin the game in cold and windy conditions. The wind ended up blowing the ball back into Bethesda hands but Vienna defended and got the ball back. From deep in their own end the Vienna forwards and backs worked through the phases the length of the field, culminating with Vienna senior outside center Drew Baublitz scoring in the corner for a 5-0 lead.

In the 5th minute junior inside center Andrew Evan sucked in defenders and went on a burst; Vienna recycled and flyhalf and captain Camden Erickson ran through a gap and put Baublitz through for his second. Erickson converted from near the touchline to bring the score to 12-0 Vienna. 

The Bethesda Roosters recovered their own kickoff and drove deep into Vienna territory. Vienna's pressure defense was able to get the ball back and through some well worked phase play it appeared fullback Yann Aubert was through for a beautiful try. Unfortunately, his right foot grazed the touchline and it was called back for a Roosters lineout. 

Vienna's aggressive defense got them pinged several times for offside, but it also frustrated Bethesda, who struggled to find space among the hungry Vienna tacklers. Vienna flanker David Kendig jackaled the ball from the Roosters near midfield and ran over and through Roosters defenders for a great individual effort and a 17-0 Vienna lead.

Two minutes later, Vienna again worked the ball down the field, and sophomore lock Juan Cat recovered an overthrown lineout throw for another Vienna try. Camden Erickson converted to bring the tally to 24-0.  The Roosters then defended ferociously for several minutes to get the ball back before showing some nifty attack play that illustrated why they had won so many 7s tournaments in 2021. Evan pressured the Rooster's backline, turned the ball over, and staked Vienna to a 31-0 lead with a try of his own.

The Roosters refused to back down, and powered through under the posts for a try, and while Vienna had some more chances, 31-7 was the halftime score.

Bethesda made some solid adjustments at halftime, kept more possession, and made Vienna work for every opportunity in the second half.  Still Vienna came on—lock Jack West broke the gain line all game long with unflashy, high-effort play, and one such breakthrough set up Erickson to beat two defenders before he delivered a Fijian-style one-handed offload to Baublitz for his third try.

Bethesda again pinned Vienna deep in their own end goal, but Vienna somehow scrambled and switched the field. Vienna freshman sensation Ethan Cash raced down the sideline for 40 meters, followed by solid support and forward work, before senior flanker Brigham DeVore scored for a 48-7 Vienna lead.  Soon it was 53-7 after a run from Aubert on a kick counter set up Cash for his second.

In the second half, many of the young Vienna underclassmen reserves fronted up well as they helped facilitate more offense off strong defense, and they put Brigham DeVore over for what might have been his second try, but he was held up in-goal. Bethesda, with the wind at their backs, was able to clear the ball back into the Vienna half, but eventually Vienna marched back and DeVore made a nice offload pass that put Kendig over for his second try. 

Finally, from a scrum in the center of the field, Erickson and Baublitz ran a textbook switch to put Baublitz through for his fourth try of the day. The conversion finished it off 67-7.

"Our Vienna boys have been preparing for this game for months as step number one of their sky high goals for this season," said Erickson the coach. "The Roosters tackled ferociously and then tackled again. The Rooster's hooker was their man of the match and all over the pitch making plays. We were grateful to host them and finally get our rugby season off and rolling. We have lots to improve, but this was a good first hit-out."

Vienna will also soon be getting more players after the school's wrestling team wraps up playoffs and USA U18 camp invitees Dylan Liskey and Tomas Edmeades come back fomr injury. 

"We have our most challenging schedule ever this year, and look forward to games against many Top-5 and Top-20 teams, so our Vienna lads have a tall task ahead of them and will have to put in the work every day," added Erickson. "That said, I would not bet against these young men and I am grateful to be a part of their journey." 

Vienna plays another strong Maryland team, the Maryland Exiles, on Feb 12, followed by Richmond on Feb 19 and the Washington Warriors on the 26th. Their first Rugby VA matrix game kicks off March 5th at former Tier II National Champion West End (Springfield), followed by top-tier games vs powerhouse teams Gonzaga, Aspetuck, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Clayton in March. April brings their rivalry match with Fort Hunt, the Gonzaga Jesuit tournament, Richmond, and the Maryland International Rugby Festival before the Virginia State Tournament the first two weeks in May.