The Columbus Rugby Club made a bit of a statement Saturday with a shock 23-21 defeat of previously unbeaten Chicago Lions.

Columbus moves to 3-4 in Midwest league play, and the Lions drop to 5-1-1.

The key for the Ohio team was their goalkicking. Paul Holmes slotted three out of four kicks - two penalties and a conversion - and then Dean Panik hit two clutch kicks late.

"We won the forwards game and took the most of our opportunities when we had options," Holmes told RUGBYMag.com after the game.

It was close all the way, and the teams were deadlocked 13-13 in the second half, when Pasquale Selvaggio went over for a try for the Lions. That made it 18-13. But a try for Columbus, with a key conversion from Panik, put Columbus ahead 20-18. 

Jeff Nogaj hit a penalty for the Lions, who struggled with their kicking accuracy in the game, and the Chicago team led 21-20 with time winding down. Then Panik hit one more penalty, and that was it.