The Wallabies veteran came up with the 80th minute score following a sustained spell of pressure from the visitors and the conversion from Clinton Schifcofske levelled the scores as the siren sounded.

The Lions produced the only score of the first half with a penalty courtesy of the boot of scrum half Jano Vermaak after just four minutes.

However the game sparked into life after the break with Reds wing Peter Hynes notching the opening try with the half only a couple of minutes old.

Schifcofske converted to give the Reds a 10-6 lead but the hosts bounced back with two tries of their own in just five minutes.

Firstly No.8 Joe van Niekerk finished off a fine break by Lions flyhalf Jaco van Schalkwyk before wing Ryno Benjamin dotten down in the corner.

Replacement prop Rodney Blake then barged his way over from short range for the Reds and the conversion from Schifcofske reduced the deficit to four points.

The game looked to have taken a decisive turn when Van Schalkwyk landed a long-range drop goal as the game entered the last quarter.

And the Lions' defensive effort held out until the last minute when Latham went over to ensure the Reds could snatch the draw.

The Reds are now in 10th place in the standings and travel to the Sharks next weekend while the Lions have a bye week to re-group before starting their tour with a trip to the Highlanders. 

Lions (3) 24
Tries: Van Niekerk, Benjamin
Con: Vermaak
Pen: Vermaak (3)
Drop: Van Schalkwyk

Reds (0) 24
Tries: Hynes, Blake, Latham
Con: Shifcofske (3)
Pen: Schifcofske

Lions: Louis Ludik, Dusty Noble, Jaco Pretorius, Walter Venter, Rayno Benjamin, Jaco van Schalkwyk, Jano Vermaak, Joe van Niekerk, Ernst Joubert (captain), Cobus Grobbelaar, Gerhard Mostert, Anton van Zyl, Ross Geldenhuys, Willie Wepener, Heinke van der Merwe. Reserves: Ethienne Reynecke, JC Janse van Rensburg, Franco van der Merwe, Willem Alberts, Chris Jonck, Rudi Vogt,. Jannie Boshoff.

Reds: Chris Latham, Clinton Schifcofske, Morgan Turinui, Berrick Barnes, Peter Hynes, Quade Cooper, Sam Cordingley (captain), Leroy Houston, Poutasi Luafutu, John Roe, James Horwill, Van Humphries, Dayna Edwards, Sean Hardman, Greg Holmes. Reserves: Stephen Moore, Rodney Blake, Ed O'Donoghue, David Croft, Ben Lucas, Brando Va'aulu, Scott Higginbotham.