The tournament hosts once again recovered from a slow start, having trailed 10-9 at the break.

After back-to-back Player That Rocks performances, hooker Gustav du Rand opened the scoring for the Eagles, with Keagan Fortune making the conversion look easy.

Fullback Zander du Plessis got Tuks on the board when he slotted a mammoth 55m penalty, which he followed shortly afterwards with another from just inside opposition territory.

Fortune’s penalty gave the Eagles a 10-6 lead, before Tuks prop Dewald Donald was yellow-carded for a high tackle. Du Plessis then made it a one-point game when he kicked a touchline penalty.

Tuks stepped up a gear in the second half, with Du Plessis’ fourth penalty followed by a try to No 8 Jaco Bezuidenhout, who found space out wide to sneak in the corner.

Just as the Eagles looked like they were getting back into the game, scrumhalf Riaan Genis was yellow-carded and Tuks flank Eduan Lubbe made them pay for it with a try.

Scrumhalf Clyde Lewis then raced away for the hosts’ third try, with Du Plessis’ conversion completing a perfect night with the boot.

Replacement Jandré de Beer scored a try for the Eagles after the hooter but it was Tuks who celebrated a third successive win.

Player That Rocks: Zander du Plessis (Tuks)

NWU Eagles – Tries: Gustav du Rand, Jandré de Beer. Conversion: Keagan Fortune. Penalty: Fortune.

UP-Tuks – Tries: Jaco Bezuidenhout, Eduan Lubbe, Clyde Lewis. Conversions: Zander du Plessis (3). Penalty: Du Plessis (4).