The 20 points to 8 scoreline was somewhat harsh on South Africa's newest franchise as they did their chances of inclusion in next year's extended Super 15 no harm at all with a fully committed display in Port Elizabeth.
Coached by former Ulster boss Alan Solomons, the Kings gave as good as they got in every area of the field bar the scrum and were unfortunate not to establish a half-time lead.
Instead the sides entered the interval level at 3-3 before an Ugo Monye try, a penalty try and a penalty and two conversions from Munster's Ronan O'Gara put the game beyond a hugely physical Eastern Cape outfit.
Monye's try came after Welsh referee Nigel Owens had consulted the television match official following O'Gara's clever cross-field kick with 49 minutes on the clock. The Harlequins wing out-muscled opposite man Matt Turner to win the race to the loose ball to claim his fourth score of the tour.
It initially appeared as though the 26-year-old may have knocked on as he attempted to pounce under severe pressure from Bristol and England Sevens wing Turner but, after plenty of deliberation, the Lions were awarded their first try of the match.
O'Gara's superb touchline conversion kept his impressive tour record with the boot intact and moved the Lions two scores clear at 13-3.
The Lions produced a far better display in the second half than they had done in the first, with their 68th-minute penalty try just reward for their dominance in the scrum. Under the tutelage of former Lions prop Graham Rowntree, the Lions have been particularly impressive in the set piece throughout the tour and, despite the early loss of Murray, today was no exception.
Trailing by just 10 points with 12 minutes remaining the Southern Kings were still very much in the game. The Lions' 100-per-cent winning record was on the line but skipper Donncha O'Callaghan's decision to opt for successive scrums having been awarded a close-range penalty put paid to the Kings' chances of an historic upset.
O'Callaghan explained afterwards that the front five were in confident mood at that crucial period in the game and that the choice of a scrum rather than a lineout or straightforward kick at goal was an easy one to make. The Munsterman signalled for the scrummage and the Lions pack turned the screw.
O'Gara's routine conversion from directly underneath the uprights stretched the advantage to 17 points and, although a late try from South African Sevens flanker Mpho Mbiyozo rekindled the home side's hopes of victory, it was the Lions, with 13 Magners League players in their matchday 22, who took the spoils at the Nelson Mandela Stadium.
There will be concerns over the fitness of Magners League star James Hook and Northampton prop Euan Murray, however, after both players left the field with injuries early in the first period.
Ospreys fly-half Hook was taken off as a precaution following a heavy knock, while Murray limped off with a strain to his right ankle. Both players had been looking to press their claims for Test selection and it remains to be seen whether they will have made enough of an impression during their limited time on the pitch.
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