The two teams were tied 12-12 going into the final minutes when Kyle Hitt struck the winning penalty goal.

CSU took a 12-5 lead into halftime. But following on prop Kyle Smith's try, wing Stephan Black score, with Hitt's conversion trying the game.

The tense match was deadlocked for much of the second half. And then as the game was about to end, UNC was camped out in the CSU 22, got a penalty, and Hitt did the job.

"The team is very excited," said UNC club president TJ Zeylmaker. "To be able to come back like that against a team as good as CSU is pretty great. We're just happy Kyle landed that kick."

The CSU pack put Northern Colorado under pressure all day. Zeylmaker had to step in at tighthead prop and said the game was hard work for the full 80. But a solid team defensive effort saw them through.