Vienna won their first ever game over in-state rivals Fort Hunt Saturday, riding a torrid start and a disciplined finish to a 33-5 decision.

The victory was for more than bragging rights as the winner was guaranteed a spot at the Boys HS Rugby National Championships. Vienna, which played in Tier 2 of nationals last year, grabbed that opportunity with both hands.

Early on the game seemed to be centered around Vienna running their phases and Fort Hunt's defense absorbing the pressure and looking for an opportunity to counter with their very quick outside backs. But little errors crept into both sides as the tackles ramped up in physicality. Eventually, from a scrum in the middle of the field, Vienna No. 8 Christos Kalpaxis picked up and made big gains before the ball was recycled quickly and shipped out to outside center Drew Baublitz found a seam and was gone.

The scrum proved a useful attack platform for Vienna and off another a nice flat pass from flyhalf Camden Erickson, using inside center Andrew Evan as a decoy, put Baublitz through for his second and, with Erickson's conversion, a 12-0 lead. Forth Hunt got some continuity going and took a lineout on a penalty. The lineout was only five meters from the Vienna line but the throw didn't go to hand—this proved to be a disturbing theme in Fort Hunt's game. Lifters, jumpers, and throwers all had their difficult moments as four or five good attacking chances off lineouts were muffed and the ball ended up in Vienna hands.

This first missed opportunity stung because once Vienna got out of trouble Erickson was able to set hooker David Kendig free, and eventually the forwards worked their way down the field and powered it over. Conversion was good and it was 19-0. Vienna was also playing good defense, but a pessimistic observer might have noted that they were also playing with the wind.

Fort Hunt continued to get their chances and just couldn't finish it off, and the half ended 19-0 for Vienna. 

In the second half Fort Hunt did a better job recycling the ball but pushed across the field by the Vienna D, the Warriors backs ran their wings out of space. Urged by Head Coach Dale Roach not to step into touch, Fort Hunt did exactly that because they were running out of space. So it was Vienna who scored next. Erickson had a penalty attempt that hit the crossbar and bounced back into the field of play. Fort Hunt looked to kick clear but the kick was charged down resulting in a goalline dropout.

The from there Vienna fullback Owen Lebkisher fielded the ball and cut through a relatively desultory kick-chase, set up the ruck, scrumhalf Diego Gonzalez picked up quickly and kept the movement going forward before linking with Erickson, who scored. The flyhalf and captain converted his own try and now it was 26-0.

Even Mother Nature seemed to be against Fort Hunt, as the wind that had been at Vienna's back died down significntly when it was Fort Hunt's turn. A longer dropout might have made a difference on that try.

Fort Hunt finally did get one back, using a nice combination of power and pace to make it 26-5. But Vienna replied with a superb team try starting with a long, rumbling break from lock Brigham DeVore and finished by Baublitz.

Overall, Vienna's commitment to direct running and their work rate among their forwards got the job done. Neither lineout coated itself in glory, but when Vienna wanted to go wide, they had created and preserved the space to get it done. Kalpaxis, back from injury and playing his first game in some time, was a powerhouse. DeVore, who just announced his commitment to study and play at Arizona, was excellent in tight play. The center pairing of Andrew Evan and Drew Baublitz worked very well together, and Erickson played those strings with some artistry.

For Fort Hunt, the pieces just didn't quite come together. Scrumhalf Brody Johnson put in a full day's work trying to get his side into scoring position and props Cooper Costanzo and Jacob Joy were active, cranky, and didn't let up for a second.