Georgia has beaten rivals Romania 25-9 in a tight contest at Arena Manawatu in Palmerston North on Wednesday.
The match lacked accuracy from both sides but was cheered on by a crowd of over 13,000 as they welcomed the Rugby World Cup to the Manawatu region for the first time.
The win means Georgia will walk away with at least one 2011 Rugby World Cup win under their belt, while Romania are on the next plane home with nothing to show for their efforts in New Zealand but the wounds of battle.
The first half was dominated by penalties as both sides struggled to get in the grove and adhere to the strict refereeing.
Both fly-halfs made the most of the shots on goal, Georgia’s Merab Kvirikashvili and Romania’s Danut Dumbrava slotting six of seven kicks in the first stanza.
If the first half was dominated by the boot, it was the handling errors that killed any chance that the game could open up.
Georgia’s confidence grew as their forwards became more dominant around the ruck. After a patient build-up, flanker Mamuka Gogodze finally pushed over the line to stretch their lead to 19-6.
A penalty to Kvirikashvili was matched Florin Vlaicu, meaning Romania had eight minutes to score two converted tries to win the match.
But it was Malkhaz Urjukashvili who scored the next points as Georgia extended their lead to 16, a margin that Romania was never going to overhaul with the territory possession the continued to give away.
Georgia 25
Try: Gorgodze
Con: Kvirikashvili
Pens: Kvirikashvili 5, Urjukashvili
Romania 9
Pens: Dumbrava 2, Vlaicu