The High School All American U17s wrapped up their three-game European trip with a 53-24 defeat of Belgium’s U17s Tuesday in Liege, Belgium.

The HSAA U17s went 2-1, losing their opener to France U17s and defeating Belgium U17s twice with two different lineups.

This second game was tight through the first half, as the Belgians could not be shaken. The Americans ran out to a 14-0 lead before Belgium scored to make it 14-7. Each time the tourists scored, the hosts answered. A try for each, with Belgium converting, made it closer at 19-14. But in the closing moments of the first half the HSAA team scored their fourth try of the half to go up 26-14. Belgium ended the half with a penalty to make it 26-17.

After that, it was more the HSAA team, as they scored outscored Belgium 27-7 in the second half to win 53-24. 

“It was a physical match all around,” said scrumhalf Ruben de Haas, who plays his high school rugby for the only HS rugby team in Arkansas, Little Rock. He is used to traveling out of state for extra games for a trip to France and Belgium wasn’t that much different. 

De Haas said the team did well to raise its game after halftime.

“In the second half we cut out the unforced errors,” he said. “We were more clinical and used our opportunities better, and the forwards also played really well in the second half.”

The team returns home Wednesday, probably wishing they had been able to schedule France at the end of the tour instead of the beginning. Facing the French team with only one day of practice was a rude awakening for a team just getting to know each other.