UFS-Kovsies were crowned Varsity Netball champions in Potchefstroom after handing NWU-Pukke their only defeat of the competition.
The Bloemfontein side came into the final as heavy underdogs, but put together an impressive performance to take the inaugural title away from home.
Kovsies drew first blood with captain Marike Holtzhauzen finding the net early on, and they soon built up a 3-0 lead as Pukke were forced to regroup.
However, it was not long before the home side had opened their account with the ever-reliable Chante Steyn slotting their first goal.
Kovsies were moving the ball around at speed as they looked to increase the pressure on their hosts through a high-tempo approach and it paid off as they moved into a 6-3 lead.
Pukke soon found their feet and they wasted no time in storming into the lead with five unanswered goals to make it 8-6.
The rest of the opening stanza was tightly contested, with both teams showing plenty of attacking flair, and it was Kovsies that took a slender 12-11 lead into the first break.
The Free State side made an energetic start to the second period as they looked to stretch the Pukke defence, but the home side were more clinical in front of goal and made better use of their opportunities to take the lead back.
The Samsung pivot shot powerplay was taken halfway through the second period and Pukke made great use of it to open up a 18-15 lead.
True to form, Kovsies mounted a spirited fight back, but it was not enough to stop Pukke taking a 24-23 lead into half-time.
Kovsies made an assured start to the second half as they took the game to Pukke, but the home side made their accuracy in front of goal count as the crowd got right behind them.
However, Kovsies refused to lie down and managed to open up a handy lead of their own as Pukke started to feel the pressure.
By the time the final break game Kovsies had built up a handy 35-31 lead, as were Pukke left with it all to do in the final quarter.
The final period was a nail-biter as Kovsies tried to hang on to their lead in the face of a fierce onslaught from Pukke.
The Samsung pivot shot was taken in the last two minutes, but it was not enough for the home side as Kovsies held on for a famous victory.
