After a shaky start, the varsity fencing team scored its first victory of the season here Wednesday by beating Brandeis 20 to 7.

Brandeis offered serious opposition only in the sabre matches, which the Crimson managed to win 5 to 4, despite the absense of captain John Kennedy, who is ill. Harvard ran away with the epees, 8 to 1 and with the foils 7 to 2. Three swordsmen with no previous varsity experience competed in the epees.

Standouts for the Crimson were Steve Khinoy and Roger Bargun, both of whom won all three of their matches.

The fencers expect to have even less trouble winning their next match, against Bradford Durfee, than they had with Brandeis.