Stingrays men and women bomb out of Queensland Gridiron finals

Classy Ravens running back Darrius Holliday-Miller torched the Stingrays defence for four rushing touchdowns to run a sword through team’s title dream.

The Gold Coast Stingrays 2019 Queensland Gridiron title hopes now 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 Ravens on Semi-Final Saturday, the men falling 35-7 and the women 6-0.

The Gold Coast Stingrays gridiron side were knocked out of the semi-finals, 6-0. Picture Glenn Hampson

Classy Ravens running back Darius Holliday-Miller torched the Stingrays defence for four rushing touchdowns on the day, three in the second half, to run a sword through team’s Sunbowl aspirations.

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

“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.

“There was a little challenge stopping the run and a couple of calls went against us that stalled our momentum, but really we couldn’t execute our game plan the way we wanted to.

“At the end of the day the Ravens turned out and beat us comprehensively and they were the better side on the day.

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“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.

“We’ve got to take some time now to digest the result.

“It wasn’t what we were wanting or expecting so it will be difficult for players handling a loss like that.

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

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

Many of the club’s players will remain on the Sunshine Coast overnight to lend their support to the Colts Under-19s and Junior teams, who contest their own semi-finals tomorrow.