Canada edges Georgia in tune-up for rugby worlds

Canada continued its preparations for the upcoming Rugby World Cup with a 16-15 victory over Georgia in a tuneup game on Wednesday.

Andrew Tiedemann scored a try and Nathan Hirayama kicked 11 points as Canada won its second match in a row. Canada beat the Glasgow Warriors in Halifax on Saturday, a day before leaving for England.

Georgia is ranked 13th in the world, compared to No. 18 for Canada. But Wednesday's contest was not considered an official test match by World Rugby, the sport's governing body.

Canada plays its final warmup Sunday against ninth-ranked Fiji at the Twickenham Stoop. It opens the tournament Sept. 19 against No. 2 Ireland in Cardiff before taking on No. 15 Italy, No. 7 France and No. 17 Romania in other Group D matches.

Tiedemann got Canada off to a quick start just four minutes after completing a 50-yard break from Canada's backs. Hirayama added the conversion to give Canada an early 7-0 lead.

Lasha Malaguradze got Georgia on the board with a penalty in the 13th minute, but Hirayama replied six minutes later to make it 10-3 Canada.

Georgia got their first try of the game in the 28th minute as flanker Giorgi Tkhilaishvili scored off a set play from a 5-metre scrum. Malaguradze added the conversion to tie the score 10-10.

Hirayama kicked a penalty from 40 yards out to give Canada a 13-10 lead at the break.

In the second half, Hirayama's third penalty of the game pushed Canada's lead to 16-10. Georgia cut the lead to 16-15 with six minutes remaining as fullback Beka Tsiklauri scored a try. The conversion kick missed, and Canada held on for the win.