Sonny Bill Williams scored his first try for the franchise and Arizona Taumalolo crossed twice in the first meeting between the two teams since 2010.

Lelia Masaga and Richard Kahui also dotted down as the teams piled on the points in the second half after the first period had concluded with the Chiefs holding a slender 10-9 lead.

Sias Ebersohn booted an early penalty for the Cheetahs, which was soon cancelled out by Aaron Cruden replying in kind.

Masaga grabbed the first try of the match after 20 minutes when he benefited from fine footwork from Andrew Horrell, Cruden added the extras.

Ebersohn responded with a pair of penalties to cut the Chiefs' lead to one point at the break with his third penalty.

Crept over

Taumalolo crept over for the first of his tries in the 46th minute, and Cruden booted the conversion to open an eight-point lead.

That, however, was soon wiped out as Ebersohn kicked another penalty and then Ashley Johnson burst through at pace for the Cheetahs' first try of the contest. Replacement Johan Goosen added the two, making it 19-17.

When Goosen then kicked a pair of penalties to one from Cruden, the Cheetahs were 25-20 in front and looking good to take the points.

A sequence of sustained Chiefs pressure brought the visitors reward though, as a push for the line resulted in prop Taumalolo putting the ball down.

The missed conversion meant the teams were tied going into the closing 10 minutes before Williams had a crucial say, the centre collecting a pass from Tanerau Latimer and barging over for a score.

His effort clinched a bonus point and they secured the victory when Kahui added a further converted try with five minutes remaining. Goosen's late try, plus a penalty, did at least secure a losing point for the hosts.