FNB UP-Tuks took the spoils at USSA in Grahamstown by beating defending champions UJ 37-29 in the Final on Friday.
The Pretoria side may have lost their Varsity Cup crown this year, but they showed that they can never be taken lightly by winning all of their games at the tournament hosted by Rhodes University this week.
Third place was claimed by FNB NWU-Pukke who secured a 17-10 victory over FNB Maties on the final day whilst FNB UFS-Shimlas finished fifth by beating Varsity Cup champions FNB UCT 22-19 and FNB NMMU took seventh by beating FNB Wits 26-22.
In the 'B' section it was Varsity Shield champions FNB CUT who took the spoils with a 27-22 victory over FNB TUT in the final which showed just why they will be playing in the Varsity Cup next year.
Third place went to UWC who secured a 36-13 win over Varsity College, whilst beaten Varsity Shield finalists UKZN proved too strong for hosts Rhodes to claim fifth and Tisan beat FNB Fort Hare 43-10 to take seventh.
NWU-Vaal will play a promotion/relegation play-off with TUT in Pretoria on July 9 for a chance to play in the Varsity Shield next year after claiming a hard-fought 24-18 victory over CPUT in the 'C' section final.
Other results in the C section saw NMMU George take third with a 47-19 win against WSU BCC and MUT and WSU IBIKA finish fifth and seventh respectively after wins against Zululand and Limpopo.
USSA Day Three results:
Section A TUKS 37-29 UJ NWU Puk 17-10 Maties Shimlas 22-19 UCT NMMU 26-22 WITS
Section B CUT 27-22 TUT PTA UWC 36-13 VC UKZN 47-14 Rhodes Tisan 43-10 UFH
Section C NWU Vaal 24-18 CPUT NMMU George 47-19 WSU BCC MUT 24-0 Zululand WSU IBIKA 27-8 Limpopo
Section D VUT 43-20 TUT B WSU Mthata 35-28 Invatation XV Venda 32-25 Mafikeng
