Victory for the Cheetahs saw them retain the trophy that they had shared with the Blue Bulls following a draw in the 2006 finale.

The Cheetahs broke the deadlock in a tense opening period with a penalty from Willem de Waal but the Lions struck back immediately with a penalty of their own from the boot of Louis Strydom.

De Waal then missed an attempted drop goal and Strydom too was off target with two efforts at goal.

Good defence from both sides limited attacking opportunities and it was left to De Waal to keep the scoreboard ticking over with his second penalty of the game that saw the Cheetahs go into the break 6-3 in the lead.

The two teams were applauded into the tunnel by the World Cup-winning Springboks who were present in Bloemfontein on the latest leg of their victory tour.

Strydom was replaced by Earl Rose a few minutes into the second half just after the Cheetahs were reduced to 14 men with the sin-binning of No.8 Darron Nell.

The Lions capitalised on their advantage by racking up 12 unanswered points.

Fullback Louis Ludick hoisted an up and under that the Cheetahs were unable to claim and the Lions worked it wide for Willie Wepener to score and put the Lions 8-6 ahead.

Another high ball brought similar success with Jano Vermaak touching down before Rose converted to extend their lead to 15-6.

A call from the touch judge then resulted in Cheetahs winger Eddie Fredericks also getting yellow-carded and Rose cemented his side's lead with another penalty.

The Cheetahs raised their game and their forwards carried centre Marius Joubert over for a try that was converted by De Waal to bring them within five points of the Lions.

Crucially the Lions were then reduced to 14-men when Ryno Benjamin was yellow carded with just seven minutes remaining in the match.

The Cheetahs continued to apply the attacking pressure and it paid off when Tewis De Bruyn went over in the corner - but it required a trip to the television match official before the score was verified.

De Waal's conversion put the Cheetahs 20-18 in front and it was a lead they would hold onto until the final whistle.

Free State Cheetahs 20
Tries: Brussouw, De Bruyn
Con: De Waal (2)
Pen: De Waal (2).

Lions 18
Tries: Wepener, Vermaak
Con: Rose
Pen: Strydom (2)

Cheetahs: Alwyn Hollenbach, Eddie Frendericks, Marius Joubert, Hendrik Meyer, Gavin Passens, Willem de Waal, Falie Oelschig, Darron Nel, Duanne Vermeulen, Hendro Schotlz, Corniel van Zyl, Rory Duncan (captain), Kobus Calldo, Richardt Strauss, Wian du Preez.

Replacements: Jaco du Toit, Jannie du Plessis, Barend Pieterse, Heinrich Brussouw, Kabamba Floors, Tewis de Bruyn, Meyer Bosman.

Lions: Louis Ludik, Jannie Boshcoff, Jaco Pretorius, Walter Venter, Rayno Benjamin, Louis Strydom, Jano Vermaak, Jacques Cronje, Ernst Joubert (captain), Cobus Grobbelaar, Franco van der Merwe, Anton van Zyl, Lawrence Sephaka, Willie Wepener, Heinke van der Merwe.

Replacements: Ethienne Reynecke, JC Janse van Rensburg, Cobus Grobler, Wilhelm Koch, Freddie van Zyl, Earl Rose, Wylie Human.

Referee: Mark Lawrence