Fullback Earl Rose steered the lowly Lions to only their second victory over the campaign with 18 points that came courtesy of three conversions and four penalties.

The Chiefs are now in seventh place on the Super 14 ladder and need to secure a bonus point in their final match next weekend against the Sharks and other results to go their way if they are to progess to the semi-finals.

The hosts started brigtly and built a 10-0 lead with a penalty from Rose and a converted try from scrum half Chris Jonck.

The Chiefs' fly half Stephen Donald narrowed the gap to 10-3 with a penalty before hooker Aled de Malmanche dived over to bring the New Zealanders back into the game.

Donald's conversion and another penalty gave the Chiefs a 13-10 lead but the Lions raised their game again before the break.

Rose was the orchestrator, gathering his own kick ahead before combining well with flanker Joe van Niekerk. from the following ruck Willem Alberts crossed for the Lions' second try of the game.

Rose converted and he later kicked a penalty early in the second half to put the Lions 20-13 ahead.

As the game approached the hour mark, another specualtive kick from Rose was gathered by replacement lock Franco van der Merwe who made big gains before the ball was recycled for flanker Cobus Grobbelaar to score out wide.

The Chiefs' cause was not helped by a red card for prop Ben May a few minutes later by Australian referee Stuart Dickinson for trampling Joe van Niekerk's face.

Rose slotted two more penalties to extend the Lions' lead to 33-13 with less than ten minutes of the game left.

But the Chiefs were rewarded for their endeavours with two tries in the game's closing minutes.

The first was sparked by some good work from Liam Messam on his own line before Donald collected his own chip ahead before putting Lelia Masaga in for a score.

And there was still time for Mils Muliaina to break through and dot down for a bonus point with Donald slotting the conversion with the last kick of the game.

Lions (17) 33
Tries: Jonck, Alberts, Grobbelaar
Con: Rose (3)
Pen: Rose (4)

Chiefs (13) 27
Tries: De Malmanche, Masaga, Muliaina
Con: Donald (3)
Pen: Donald (2)

Lions: Earl Rose, Louis Ludik, Jaque Fourie, Walter Venter, Rayno Benjamin, Jaco van Schalkwyk, Jano Vermaak, Willem Alberts, Joe van Niekerk, Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), Gerhard Mostert, Dewald Senekal, JC Janse van Rensburg, Willie Wepener, Heinke van der Merwe. Reserves: Ethienne Reynecke, Ross Geldenhuys, Franco van der Merwe, Willem Johannes Koch, Chris Jonck, Jannie Boshoff, Dusty Noble

Chiefs: Mils Muliaina (captain), Lelia Masaga, Dwayne Sweeney, Callum Bruce, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Jamie Nutbrown, Sione Lauaki, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Kevin O'Neill, Toby Lynn, Ben Castle, Tom Willis, Ben May. Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, Simon Lemalu, Jono Gibbes, Faifili Levave, David Bason, Viliame Waqaseduadua, Sosene Anesi.