Six Bayside Ravens junior players were among the invitee squad for the Australian World Cup Qualifying match against New Zealand in Canberra next January.

Players have been invited to a training and selection camp at the AIS prior to the qualifier. A win by Australia would see the Junior National team head to Canton, Ohio for the World Junior Cup in late June.

The selected players were: Will Sunerton, Jesse Williams, Phil Whap, Kurt Mahuika, Darius Holliday-Miller and Michail Kressibucher.

Selected players will be contacted by team management shortly.

Bayside Ravens Flight League Flag Football will be back in 2009 after making a successful debut this past year.

The Wednesday night format looks set to continue, with an expected growth in number of teams perhaps seeing some scheduling changes.

This year, in one of the notable changes, teams will be provided with Flight League Flag Football shirts as part of their fees, these shirts in team colour will be the required uniform for teams, to ensure there is consistency and ease of identification.

Participation costs will be $55 which will include registration, public liability insurance, membership, tshirt, and field use contribution.

Teams are being called for now, with team registrations required by Friday 23 January. Each nominating team must submit a completed nomination form (downloadable here) and submit this form along with payment for each of the team members by this date and completed player membership form (download here). The competition is expected to commence in early February (actual date TBC).

Individuals who do not have a team should contact the club so we can attempt to allocate you to a team in need of players. Teams will include players from 15yo-adult, with males and females welcome.

Stay tuned for further updates.

For more information, email ravens@gridironqld.asn.au.

With the club season now over, attention turns for Ravens hopefuls to the upcoming state trials. The two-phase trials will begin on Saturday 29 November with a skills session to be held at Kitchener Park, Wynnum from 2.30pm, with a scrimmage-based trial to be held the following Saturday at the same place and time.

Ravens intending to trial will need to complete a nomination form to bring along on the day, and bring all protective gear and waterbottle. A warm-up session for Ravens juniors intending to trial will be held at Judy Holt Park on Wednesday 26 November at 5pm.

Bayside Ravens formally concluded their 2008 season today with the Annual Awards Presentation at Judy Holt Park.

Players, coaches, family and friends came together to wrap up the season, with awards presented in a range of categories.

Graham Reynolds took out the biggest senior award on the day, recognized for his outstanding season on offense, defense and special teams, taking out the Senior MVP trophy. Reynolds played every game during the season, anchoring the offensive line from centre and being a strong performer on the defensive line.

In the junior division, Darius Holliday-Miller added club Junior MVP to his League Junior MVP, recognized for his dominant season at running-back in his first with the club.

Club President Arthur Williams acknowledged the contributions of two long-time Ravens members, Steve Box presented with the Raven of the Year award after a season of commitment as senior player, junior coach and committee member. Williams also made the inaugural presentation of the Southern Cross Screen Printing Shining Star to Paul Knight, recognizing is value to the club on and off the field and a key driving force behind the club’s success.

Other winners on the day were:

Senior Defensive Player of the Year – Thompson Sunerton
Senior Offensive Player of the Year – Steve Box
Eagle Boys Senior Man of Steel – Shannon Moen
Senior Rookie of the Year – Calvin Young
Senior Most Improved – Liam Flannery
Senior Best Lineman – Peter Soluch
Junior Defensive Player of the Year – Kieren Ward
Junior Offensive Player of the Year – Will Sunerton
Eagle Boys Junior Man of Steel – Phil Cottis
Junior Rookie of the Year – Paget Hoad
Junior Most Improved – Matt Fletcher
Junior Best Lineman – Tyler Willis

Many thanks to the Ravens Events Committee for another enjoyable and successful event. The Ravens now head into off-season mode, with a chance to recuperate and commence planning to make 2009 an even bigger year.

Bayside Ravens staged another successful Sunbowl event at the weekend at Bottomley Park, Coorparoo, hundreds on hand to enjoy the championship games, this year both won by Gold Coast Stingrays.

The Coorparoo venue was a great location to wrap up the season, with the group of Ravens volunteers and the fantastic support of Easts Rugby Union club making for a wonderful showpiece for the sport in Queensland.

The Bayside Ravens juniors came short of a return to the Sunbowl on the weekend, knocked out of the playoffs by the Northern Rhinos at Kenmore 24-14.

The Rhinos started fast were able to assert control early in the game. With regular QB Phil Cottis limited due to injury, RB Darius Holliday-Miller was forced into action for the Ravens at QB with the option based scheme brought in for this situation, RBs Ken Andres and Jameson Clifton supported well, along with WR Matt Fletcher who was also involved in the backfield rotation.

But it was Cottis who helped get the Ravens on the scoreboard, coming off the bench and battling through the injury for two key completions to Matt Fletcher, the second one for a great touchdown. The second score for the Ravens came late as Ken Andres powered over from a yard out.

The Ravens defense had their moments against the Rhinos with LB/S Michail Kressibucher, DL Sean Kerns and Brennan Cross all collecting sacks. Safety Ryan Forsyth also took a good interception in the endzone to stop a Rhinos drive.

With a handful of injured junior Ravens watching on, it was not to be on this occasion, but a strong second half effort by the Ravens allowed a better finish to the year.

Congratulations goes to the Ravens players and coaches on a good season. Special mention to those Ravens juniors who conclude their junior careers after this season - Jesse Williams, Michail Kressibucher, Kurt Mahuika, Kynon Gameren, Ryan Forsyth, Sean Kerns.

With the entire Ravens offense returning next season and a handful of key defenders, perhaps 2009 will be the season for the Birds.

A 21-14 playoff loss to the Browns Plains Bears was the final result for the Bayside Ravens senior team, finishing a good season with a strong performance, just edged out.

The Ravens entered the playoffs after their most successful season in club history, the second half of the year seeing some impressive football, particularly with some low numbers.

The playoff started well for the Ravens, rookie Wide Receiver Calvin Young putting his mark on the game on the opening kick-off returning it for a touchdown, eluding and outrunning the Bears. The score was converted for a 7-0 lead.

The Bears then put together a strong drive, moving the ball gradually down the field for the tying score. The Ravens were able to move the ball somewhat, but couldn't threaten the goalline of the Bears. Defensively, there were some good stands made before the Bears added their second TD to go ahead 14-7.

Neither team could add to the scoring until the Ravens put together a strong drive, with catches from a number of players before Chris Frangos took a pass and used his speed to get down the middle of the field for the levelling score after the conversion was good, a 14-14 deadlock in place with about 7 minutes remaining.

But it wasn't to be for the Ravens, the Bears taking good field position to drive down for the winning score to advance to the next round.

Ravens players can be proud of their effort on the night and over the course of the season.

It wasn't the performance hoped for by the junior Ravens, mistakes proving too much for the Ravens who were run over by the EagleRays 32-0 at Ipswich.

The playoff nerves were clear for the Ravens with an 8-0 halftime deficit getting away in the second half as the mistakes and execution problems piled up.

A big week of training and some refocusing will be needed for the Ravens who will take on the Rhinos in the next round of the playoffs at 2pm at Kenmore.

Ravens junior players were among the big winners at the Gridiron Queensland Annual Awards Luncheon held at Club HQ at the State Hockey Centre.

Standout junior running back Darius Holliday-Miller was recognized for his impressive season, awarded Junior MVP. In his first year with the Ravens, Holliday-Miller has made a huge impact on the Ravens offense, working well behind a strong offensive line to pile up rushing yards.

Ravens defensive captain Michail Kressibucher was also a recipient, taking our Best Defensive Back (shared with a Rhinos player) for his standout play at safety this season. Kressibucher is in his third season with the Ravens.

Wide Receiver Todd Stein used his big frame to earn Best Receiver honours. The first-year Raven, who brought a season of experience in Wellington, NZ, has become one of the favoured targets of QB Phil Cottis.

Congratulations to all recipients and nominees.

Both Bayside Ravens teams are headed to the playoffs in 2008, capping strong seasons to take part in post-season play.

All playoff games will be hosted by Ipswich Cougars at Jim Finimore Oval, with the junior team to take on Gold Coast EagleRays at midday and the senior team squaring off against the Browns Plains Bears at 7pm.

A strong week of training is expected ahead to see the teams take advantage of their playoff opportunities.

With the vocal home crowd cheering them on, Bayside Ravens juniors finished the regular season with an impressive 30-0 win over the Wildcats at Judy Holt Park.

A strong kick-return by Paget Hoad setup strong field position for the Ravens, with only a handful of plays needed to see running back Darius Holliday-Miller in for the score. It was converted for 2points by Matt Fletcher for an 8-0 lead.

Strong defense helped set the tone for the Ravens with Linebacker Calum Andersen and Cornerback Mark Gough having their best games of the season.

It was more points for the Ravens with WR Matt Fletcher adding a nice receiving TD, on the end of a beautiful pass from QB LC Cottis.

The tailgate crew on the hill kept the cowbell ringing as the defensive swarm shut down the Wildcats offense, the entire secondary in top form for the Ravens with Ryan Forsyth, Michail Kressibucher and Paget Hoad in on plenty of tackles and shutting down the pass.

Running Back Holliday-Miller made it a double on an amazing meandering run, breaking tackles and following blockers in for the score, with fellow backfield mates Jameson Clifton and Ken Andres getting plenty of yards in their carries also.

It was a busy day for tight ends David Hodkinson and Josh Servatius, both making good grabs and moving the chains, with the offensive line continuing to dominate at the line of scrimmage.

Wide Receiver Todd Stein completed the scoring with a nice catch in the corner of the endzone for the final 30-0 result.

The win secured second place on the ladder, with a Sunbowl qualifying contest against Gold Coast EagleRays next Saturday.

Bayside Ravens Annual Awards will be presented on Sunday 16 November, 1pm at Judy Holt Park Clubhouse.

Junior and Senior players, coaches, volunteers, friends and families will come together for the event, as the performances of 2008 are acknowledged and presented.

The cost will be $10 per person for catering and venue. Booking forms will be circulated to all players over the next week.

Bayside Ravens seniors finished the regular season in convincing fashion with a record 56-0 win over the Wildcats at Daisy Hill.

The win represents the most points scored in a game, the biggest winning margin and help complete the highest scoring offensive season performance in club history.

The offense was impressive all game, moving the ball on the ground and through the air, scoring 8 touchdowns in total.

Harry Alderton scored 3 touchdowns, Limbie Kelegai 2, Chris Frangos 2 with Gerrit Johnson adding an extra touchdown. Sam Hazell ran in a 2 point conversion with Steve Box kicking 6 extra points.

The offensive line and tight ends played impressively to open holes and give protection all game along.

Defensively it was another strong performance by the front seven, with the D Line of Calvisi, Soluch, Reynolds, Knight and Andersen in the backfield all night allowing plenty of opportunities for the linebackers to make tackles and the secondary to play the ball, with forced fumbles and interceptions helping the Ravens cause.

The Ravens will enjoy a week off next week before taking on the Bears in the playoffs.