Stingrays Colts, Juniors progress to Queensland’s Superbowl

The Stingray’s Colts and Juniors have succeeded where the Nerang club’s seniors have failed, booking their tickets to the SunBowl - Queensland’s equivalent to the Superbowl

Gold Coast Stingrays Colts Gridiron team take on the Ravens at Glennon Park Nerang. No 8 for Colts Goor Kuwot-Chapari. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

The Gold Coast Stingrays Queensland 2019 Gridiron title hopes will rest on the shoulders of the next generation after the club’s senior men and women were knocked out in the Semi-Finals.

The Stingrays were defeated in both senior clashes against the Bayside Rhinos on Semi-Final Saturday, with the men falling 35-7 and the women 6-0.

Stingrays coach David Hill said the loss would be difficult to digest as the reality of another long off-season sets in.

Gold Coast Stingrays Colts Quarterback Goor Kuwot-Chapari. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

“It was a really tough day,” Hill said.

“We had a great core of coaches that I had every faith in and I knew we had the game plan to do it, so it’s a pretty tough one unfortunately.

“I think we had most potential of any team in the comp with our athletic ability and capability, we just never really put it together in the biggest games.”

The club’s women’s team will share those emotions, having defended admirably throughout the match to hold the Ravens to zero after a breakaway touchdown run in the first quarter.

The Stingrays leaned heavily on their passing game to climb out of their six-point hole but failed to convert their opportunities into points.

The Colts Under-19s triumphed in their Semi-Final against the Ravens 18-0, thanks to a pair of touchdowns to Andrei Bailey in the first half.

Hail forced Gold Coast footballers off the field in Semi-Final clash. Picture: Paul Mills

The former Merrimac State High student caught a touchdown pass and returned an interception for a touchdown despite nearly skipping the game due to illness.

The Stingrays Junior side led the Logan Bengals 58-0 before hail forced the early cancellation of their match with five minutes to play.