"It was awesome," Townsend said after collecting his winner's medal at Carisbrook on Saturday.
"It was something we had planned for the last three seasons. A lot of hard work has paid off."
John Leslie's University A team had been frustrated in its plans over the past two years because the demands of the Otago team took top players out of club rugby before the playoffs.
Townsend won two medals in Leslie's University Colts team before he first played for University A three years ago.
His most significant medals came as a member of the New Zealand under-19 (2007) and under-20 (2008) teams that won the World Cup both years.
The aggressive lock has modelled his play on that of Springbok star Victor Matfield.
He was the standout forward when the students beat Alhambra-Union 14-3 in the final with his dominance in the lineout.
He made seven clean takes and was aggressive with the ball in hand and solid on defence.
"We held our composure and soaked up their pressure when they came at us," Townsend said.
"We trusted our systems and never panicked."
Townsend came to prominence as a member of the Christchurch Boys' High School First XV and Canterbury junior teams before beginning his studies at the University of Otago five years ago.
He is a graduate in marketing and is working towards a pilot's licence.
Townsend is contracted by the Otago Rugby Football Union and his goal this season is to start for Otago in the national championship and obtain a Super 15 contract next year.