FNB Maties coach Chris Rossouw was proud of the character his side showed to fight back in their crucial final WP Super League game against Hamilton's to claim the title.
The Stellenbosch students had trailed at half-time, but scored two tries in the second half and held on for a tense 27-25 victory.
That win ensured that they finished the season one log point ahead of Cape FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International rivals FNB UCT.
Rossouw was particularly pleased with the mental strength his side showed to fight back after going behind early on.
"We conceded a try in the first minute and then let in another soft try in the first half, but we handled the pressure well," he said.
Rossouw said that the high stakes had created a testing situation for Maties, and they came through with flying colours.
"It was like a final situation which brings different pressures so it took a different mindset and it was great the way the guys stuck to their guns and consolidated to come back from there," he said.
The Maties coach added that the amount of young talent that has come through in the WP Super League this season is encouraging ahead of the 2015 Varsity Cup.
"There are quite a few young guys who are coming through and have made the step up. Varsity Cup is the main challenge and we don't have the trophy we want so we have to put the systems in place to change that," he said.
