20th February 2010 08:58AM

In a record breaking match, the Chiefs beat the Lions 72-65 in round two of the Rebel Sport Super 14 in Johannesburg this morning.

It was try-fest for both teams, each scoring nine tries each.  However, it was the accurate boot of Chiefs first five-eighth Stephen Donald which in the end made the difference.  Donald created a new Chiefs record for the most points in a match with 32 points (1 try, three penalties, and nine conversions).

The match become the highest ever aggregate score in a Super 14 match with 137 points.  The previous record was 118 points held between the Crusaders and the Waratahs.

It was Chiefs second five-eighth Callum Bruce who kicked off the match with a try in the opening two minutes.  Bruce was enjoying his first competition match of the 2010 season having recently recovered from a knee injury he suffered in the pre-season.   

Donald converted his try, the first of nine in the game, and went onto also kick a penalty.  In the 13th minute captain Sione Lauaki was sin-binned, however this did not affect the Chiefs determination with strong running centre Richard Kahui crossing the line with only 14 Chiefs on the park. 

In the 21st minute Chiefs hooker Aled de Malmanche was also yellow-carded which saw the Chiefs have only 13 men on the field for a short period.  At scrum time Kahui made up numbers in the scrum - a sight not often seen in Super 14 rugby.

During this spell of play the Lions came back into the match scoring three tries and with nine minutes left on the clock until half-time, they led 25-17.

But once the Chiefs got back to full-strength it was Donald, through a penalty, a try and a conversion who pushed the Chiefs into leading 27-25 at half-time.

After the break, Chiefs loose forward Liam Messam wasted no time in crossing the line and giving the Chiefs their four-try bonus point.  Following this, the Chiefs gained confidence with two tries to Kahui, one to halfback Junior Poluleuligaga (his first for the Chiefs), and then to winger Sitiveni Sivivatu.

A number of Chiefs replacements were made during this period of play.  Forward Jarrad Hoeata made his debut for the Chiefs when replacing lock Craig Clarke; Hika Elliot replaced Aled de Malmanche at hooker, Tim Nanai-Williams came on as fullback for Mike Delany, prop Ben Afeaki replaced Nathan White and Jackson Willison slotted into the midfield replacing Bruce.

Another yellow card for the Chiefs was handed out to Richard Kahui who was wrongly identified for a dangerous tackle.  The Lions then came back into the game scoring two tries. 

Halfback Brendon Leonard was then called onto replace Sivivatu on the wing.  Within moments of taking up his unusual position on the wing, Leonard scored under the posts.  Leonard's try and Donald's conversion were to be the final points for the Chiefs in this match.

The final 20 minutes saw the Lions roar into action, scoring four converted tries, and in doing so earning a bonus point for coming within seven points. Their 65 points becoming the highest ever losing score in Super 14 history.

The Chiefs have now earned a total of nine points from their two games in South Africa. 

Other records in this match included Kahui scoring the most tries (3) of any Chiefs players in a single game in South Africa, and 72 points being the highest away game score by any Super 14 team.

Post-match both coach Ian Foster and Kahui lamented on the lapses in discipline which resulted in the Lions comeback.

However, Foster also pointed out that 20 minutes after half-time many of the players "hit the wall" physically and that was when a number of mental lapses occured.

He was "delighted" for the Chiefs to come away from South Africa with nine points on the table.

"It's a mark of where we are as a team."

The Chiefs will fly to Perth this weekend to prepare for next weekend's clash against the Western Force.  This match is played at 12.05am on Sunday 28 February (NZ time). 

Remember all Chiefs home games are now on sale, with tickets ranging from $15 to $45, via www.chiefs.co.nz. The Chiefs first home game is against the Reds on Friday 5 March at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton at 7.35pm.  Secure your tickets now.

FIRST HALF:

Tries: Bruce, Kahui, Donald

Conversions: Donald (3)

Penalties: Donald (2)

HALF-TIME SCORE:27-25 (CHIEFS)

SECOND HALF:

Tries: Messam, Kahui (2), Poluleuligaga, Sivivatu, Leonard

Conversions: Donald (6)

Penalty: Donald

FULL-TIME SCORE: 72-65

The Chiefs team that played the Lions:

1. Sona Taumalolo

2. Aled de Malmanche

3. Nathan White

4. Craig Clarke

5. Culum Retallick

6. Liam Messam

7. Luke Braid

8. Sione Lauaki (captain)

9. Junior Poluleuligaga

10. Stephen Donald

11. Sitiveni Sivivatu

12. Callum Bruce

13. Richard Kahui

14. Dwayne Sweeney;

15. Mike Delany;Reserves

Reserves

16. Hika Elliot (on for de Malmanche - yellow card, then de Malmanche in second half)

17. Ben Afeaki (on for White)

18. Jarrad Hoeata (on for Clarke)

19. Tanerau Latimer (on for Poluleuligaga)

20. Brendon Leonard (on for Sivivatu)

21. Jackson Willison (on for Bruce)

22. Tim Nanai-Williams (on for Delany).